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

Pathogens

Diversity and risk assessment of Phytophthora spp. found on plant roots in native plant nurseries and interstate shipping nurseries in California https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTOFR-06-24-0064-R

Bacterial leaf spot of hydrangea: On a “new old” disease and the importance of diagnostics specificity to reduce cross-reactivity and improve surveillance https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTOFR-10-24-0119-FI 
 
Bacteria that cause cucurbit yellow vine disease fall within the Serratia ureilytica species of the S. marcescens complex and can be vectored by cucumber beetles https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-10-24-0321-R 
 
Host range and molecular characterization of the four races of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lactucae https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-07-24-1505-RE 
 
Ganoderma adspersum, the cause of extensive wood decay of almond trees in California orchards https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-03-24-0631-RE 
 
Identification, characterization, and fungicide sensitivity of Botryosphaeriaceae fungi associated with avocado branch canker disease in Southern California https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-12-24-2674-RE 
 
Tiny invaders, big trouble: Emerging nematode threats in the United States https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-09-24-0290-IA

Methods and protocols

Denotes publications with one or more authors who are members of NPDN.Pilot for harmonization of diagnostic protocols for tomato brown rugose fruit virus (TOBRFV) in tomato and pepper seeds https://apsjournals.apsnet.org/doi/10.1094/PHYTOFR-06-24-0070-FI 

Denotes publications with one or more authors who are members of NPDN.Metagenomic sequencing of tomato plants with wilt symptoms allows for strain-level pathogen identification and genome-based characterization https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-09-24-0279-R 

Denotes publications with one or more authors who are members of NPDN.Development and validation of an RPA assay for detecting Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri A, A* and Aw and X. fuscans subsp. aurantifolii B and C https://apsjournals.apsnet.org/doi/10.1094/PHYTOFR-10-24-0120-FI 

Apple bitter rot: Biology, ecology, omics, virulence factors, and management of causal Colletotrichum species https://doi.org/10.1111/mpp.70050 
 
Modeling the accuracy of Xylella fastidiosa molecular diagnostic tests in naturally-infected almond tree samples https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-12-24-2568-RE 
 
Application of Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification in plant pathogen detection https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-10-23-0391-KC 
 
Development of qPCR assays to detect and quantify Fusarium spp. on hemp (Cannabis sativa) flowers https://doi.org/10.1094/PHP-11-24-0131-RS

Notable First Reports 

Herbaceous ornamentals and turfgrass: 

First report of target spot caused by Corynespora cassiicola on Senna obtusifolia L. (Sicklepod) in the United States https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-12-24-2541-PDN 
 
First report of Brugmansia latent virus on Angel’s Trumpet (Brugmansia sp.) in Florida, USA https://doi.org/10.1094/PHP-08-23-0071-BR 
 
First report of Agroathelia rolfsii causing southern blight of Alocasia in Florida https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-11-24-2473-PDN 

Woody ornamentals and forests: 

First report of Botryosphaeria dothidea causing canker of Calocedrus decurrens in Tennessee https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-10-24-2231-PDN 
 
Denotes publications with one or more authors who are members of NPDN.First report of Phytophthora ramorum causing leaf spot on Arbutus × reyorum ‘Marina’ in the United States https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-11-24-2379-PDN

Vegetables, herbs and table beet: 

Denotes publications with one or more authors who are members of NPDN.First report of Rhizoctonia solani AG 5 causing stem lesion and root necrosis of mint in Idaho https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-10-24-2154-PDN

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

First report of Pseudopithomyces chartarum associated with a leaf spot of corn in the United States https://doi.org/10.1094/PHP-10-24-0099-BR 
 
First report of Fusarium commune causing damping off and wilt in Cannabis sativa (L.) in Pennsylvania https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-10-24-2067-PDN

Peer review highlights

Powdery mildews on North American oaks: High levels of diversity and pathogen-host coevolution https://doi.org/10.1111/efp.70005
 
Identification and pathogenicity of fungal species associated with branch canker and shoot blight on persimmons (Diospyros kaki) in California https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-12-23-2629-SC
 
Dispersal of Colletotrichum acutatum sensu lato conidia from infected citrus and strawberry under simulated rainfall and different laminar and turbulent wind speeds 
https://apsjournals.apsnet.org/doi/10.1094/PHYTO-11-24-0342-R
 
Cercospora leaf spot impacts on postharvest disease and respiration of affected sugarbeet roots https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-07-24-1478-RE 
 
Identification of Cercospora spp. on corn in North America and baseline flutriafol fungicide sensitivity https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-03-24-0585-RE 
 
A systematic approach for identifying unique genomic sequences for Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lactucae Race 1 and development of molecular diagnostic tools  
https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-04-24-0142-R 
 
Biphenyl and dibenzofuran phytoalexins differentially inhibit root-associated microbiota in apple, including fungal and oomycetal replant disease pathogens
https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-03-24-0088-R 
 
Genetically similar Xanthomonas arboricola pv. pruni strains and associated phages display phenotypic and genotypic variation across 35 years 
https://doi.org/10.1094/PBIOMES-03-24-0033-FI

Extension

Shrimp plant: Impatiens Necrotic Spot Virus (INSV) https://www.e-gro.org/pdf/2025-14-09.pdf

Managing palm diseases https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/sumterco/2025/02/07/managing-palm-diseases/

Vertical hydroponic towers: A space-saving revolution in sustainable farming
https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/stlucieco/2025/02/06/vertical-hydroponic-towers-a-space-saving-revolution-in-sustainable-farming/

The tiny terror – the Asian citrus psyllid https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/gcrec/2025/02/20/small-but-mighty-the-asian-citrus-psyllid/

Cucurbit downy mildew management for 2025 https://lgpress.clemson.edu/publication/cucurbit-downy-mildew-management/

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