Peer Review Digest

Sara May, The Pennsylvania State University – NEPDN, Swarnalatha Moparthi, North Carolina State University – SPDN, and Samantha Fieweger, Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection - NCPDN 
The Communicator: Volume 6, Issue 1, January 2025

Contact Sara May (srm183@psu.edu), Swarnalatha Moparthi (smopart@ncsu.edu), and Samantha Fieweger (sam.fieweger@wisconsin.gov) for suggestions to include.

Denotes publications with one or more authors who are members of NPDN.

Diagnostic guides

A diagnostic guide for Fusarium root rot of sweetpotato https://doi.org/10.1094/PHP-03-24-0024-DG

Diagnostic guide for Pythium root rot in hydroponic leafy green and herb production https://doi.org/10.1094/PHP-07-24-0070-DG

Pathogens

Pink-pigmented variant of Clavibacter michiganensis expands phenotypic range of tomato bacterial canker pathogen https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-07-24-0236-R

Canker and dieback of Alnus rubra is caused by Lonsdalea quercina https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-06-24-0192-SC

Arthropod pests, nematodes, and microbial pathogens of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) and their management—A review https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14122841

Methods and protocols

Correction: SODplex, a series of hierarchical multiplexed real-time PCR assays for the detection and lineage identification of Phytophthora ramorum, the causal agent of Sudden Oak Death and Sudden Larch Death https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTOFR-09-22-0095.1-FI

Genome-informed real-time PCR for detection of Erwinia pyrifoliae, the causal agent of Asian pear blight https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTOFR-08-24-0091-FI

Notable First Reports

Herbaceous ornamentals and turfgrass:

Uncovering the fungus responsible for stem and root rot of false indigo: pathogen identification, new disease description, and genome analyses https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-07-24-1396-RE

Woody ornamentals and forests:

First report of Phytopythium helicoides causing root and crown rot on Rhododendron in Ohio and the United States https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-10-24-2205-PDN

First report of crown and root rot on eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis) caused by Calonectria cylindrospora in Tennessee https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-10-24-2224-PDN

First report of Phytopythium vexans causing root rot on Quercus bicolor in Tennessee and the United States https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-11-24-2355-PDN

First report of Pythium dissotocum causing root rot on nandina in Tennessee and the United States https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-09-24-1970-PDN

First report of the cyst nematode Heterodera koreana parasitizing bamboo (Phyllostachys reticulata) in Georgia, USA https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-06-24-1321-PDN

First report of Diplodia shoot blight and canker disease caused by Diplodia sapinea on ponderosa pine in Colorado, USA https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-07-24-1369-PDN

Vegetables, herbs and table beet:

First report of Phytophthora taxon × salinaslettuce (Subclade 8b hybrid) causing stem and basal rot in lettuce in North America https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-10-24-2155-PDN  

Tree fruit and small fruit: berries, nuts, stone and pome fruit

First report of twig dieback caused by Neopestalotiopsis rosae on highbush blueberry in the continental United States https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-06-24-1256-PDN

Lasiodiplodia theobromae causes rachis blight on coconut palms (Cocos nucifera L.) in Florida https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-09-24-1925-PDN

First report of Diaporthe sp. from the D. arctii species complex causing postharvest decay of European pear in West Virginia, United States https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-09-23-1794-PDN

Field crops, cannabis, sugar beet, potato, sunflower:

Occurrence of Snake River alfalfa virus in alfalfa (Medicago sativa) in Oregon and in Northern California https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-10-24-2134-PDN

First report of Diaporthe caulivora causing Phomopsis stem canker on sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) in Minnesota https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-10-24-2068-PDN

First detection of aster yellows associated with phytoplasma on Camelina sativa in Montana https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-09-24-1875-PDN
 

Peer review highlights

Septoria leaf spot of tomatoes: Historical insights, present challenges, and future prospects https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10121299

TaqMan qPCR detection and quantification of Phytophthora cinnamomi in soil and plant tissues for walnut disease management. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14070999

Deciphering fire blight: From Erwinia amylovora ecology to genomics and sustainable control https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10111178

Colletotrichum nymphaeae and Colletotrichum theobromicola isolated from anthracnose symptoms cause grape ripe rot https://doi.org/10.1111/ppa.14052

Inhibition of Botrytis cinerea and Escherichia coli by lactic acid bacteria on leafy vegetables https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14081228

Fusarium and hazelnut: A story of twists and turns https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14071080

Characterisation of Itersonilia spp. from parsnip and other hosts   https://doi.org/10.3390/jof10120873

Diversity of Colletotrichum species causing anthracnose in chayote in Brazil, with a description of two new species in the C. magnum complex https://doi.org/10.3390/jof10120847

The hemibiotrophic apple scab fungus Venturia inaequalis induces a biotrophic interface but lacks a necrotrophic stage https://doi.org/10.3390/jof10120831

A multiplex RT-qPCR assay for simultaneous detection of cucurbit viruses from individual whitefly and plant samples https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-09-23-1964-RE

Diversity of Colletotrichum spp. on Aristolochia grandiflora: A case study in an Italian botanical garden. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10111215
 

Extension

Hop latent viroid in hemp https://extension.oregonstate.edu/crop-production/hemp/hop-latent-viroid-hemp

Neopestalotiopsis leaf, fruit, and crown rot of strawberry https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/neopestalotiopsis-leaf-fruit-and-crown-rot-of-strawberry

Stealthy mites in poinsettias https://www.egroblog.com/showblog.php?ID=236

Turfgrass disease diagnosis: A bit of science and a lot of art
https://plantpathology.ces.ncsu.edu/2024/07/turfgrass-disease-diagnosis-a-bit-of-science-and-a-lot-of-art/

Could a fungus be behind the Salem witch trials?
https://ag.purdue.edu/news/2024/10/could-a-fungus-be-behind-the-salem-witch-trials.html