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 , April 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
Sunflower head rot diseases: Rhizopus head rot https://doi.org/10.1094/PHP-10-24-0093-DG
Pathogens
The disease triangle of chestnut: A review of host, pathogen, and environmental interactions of chestnuts cultivated in the eastern United States https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-11-23-2355-FE
Brown spot of rice: Worldwide disease impact, phenotypic and genetic diversity of the causal pathogen Bipolaris oryzae, and management of the disease https://doi.org/10.1111/ppa.14075
Methods and protocols
Validation of a rapid, high throughput isothermal recombinase polymerase amplification screening assay for Phytophthora ramorum https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTOFR-10-24-0114-FI
Development and application of a qPCR-based method coupled with spore trapping to monitor airborne pathogens of wheat causing stripe rust, powdery mildew, and Fusarium head blight https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-03-24-0548-SR
A quantitative PCR assay for specific detection of Pseudomonas cannabina pv. alisalensis https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-06-24-1217-RE
Development of a quantitative PCR Assays for Columbia root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne chitwoodi) diagnostics in the Pacific Northwest https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTOFR-09-24-0107-FI
Notable First Reports
Woody ornamentals and forests:
First report of Phytopythium vexans causing root rot on Norway spruce (Picea abies) in Tennessee and the United States https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-01-25-0157-PDN
First report of Valsa melanodiscus causing stem canker on Arizona alder in Arizona https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-02-25-0383-PDN
Vegetables, herbs and table beet:
First report of leaf blight of cilantro, Coriandrum sativum, caused by Alternaria poonensis in the United States https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-11-24-2501-PDN
First report of Diaporthe humulicola causing stem blight in hop plants in Massachusetts https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-01-25-0146-PDN
First report of Ralstonia pseudosolanacearum phylotype I sequevar 14 causing bacterial wilt on tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) and eggplant (Solanum melongena) in North Carolina, USA https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-11-24-2377-PDN
Tree fruit and small fruit: berries, nuts, stone and pome fruit:
First report of bacterial wilt on southern highbush blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum), caused by Ralstonia solanacearum, in North Carolina https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-11-24-2411-PDN
First report of southern root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita, infecting papaya in Florida, USA https://doi.org/10.1007/s13314-024-00547-0
First report of ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma pruni’-related strain and ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma asteris’-related strain associated with North American grapevine yellows of cultivated grapevines in Minnesota https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-02-25-0232-PDN
Field crops, cannabis, sugar beet, potato, sunflower:
First report of Dickeya dianthicola causing potato blackleg in Oregon https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-01-25-0154-PDN
First report of red crown rot of soybean, caused by Calonectria ilicicola, in Missouri https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-12-24-2566-PDN
Peer review highlights
Development of a triplex qPCR system for the detection of Parastagonospora nodorum, Zymoseptoria tritici and Pyrenophora tritici-repentis from wheat https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-01-25-0003-SR
Where flowers bloom, so do downy mildews: new species and new records of Hyaloperonospora, Peronospora and Plasmopara species on ornamental and wild plants in the United States https://doi.org/10.1094/PHP-10-24-0100-RS
Elevated atmospheric CO2 concentrations reduce tomato mosaic virus severity in tomato plants https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14050811
Plant-based production of monoclonal antibodies for rapid detection of Papaya ringspot virus https://doi.org/10.1007/s12298-025-01563-9
Identification, distribution, and hosts of Meloidogyne spp. infecting horticultural crops in Florida, USA with focus on Meloidogyne enterolobii https://doi.org/10.2478/jofnem-2024-0042
Thermotherapy via aerated steam is an effective alternative for non-chemical management of cryptic infection of strawberry by Colletotrichum acutatum https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-03-24-0700-RE
Extension
Something Wicked This Way Comes https://www.e-gro.org/pdf/2025-14-13.pdf
UF/IFAS researchers work to prevent a disease threatening your favorite chocolate
https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/news/2025/02/10/uf-ifas-researchers-work-to-prevent-a-disease-threatening-your-favorite-chocolate/
Vascular streak dieback (VSD) in SC: symptoms, management, and prevention
https://hgic.clemson.edu/vascular-streak-dieback-vsd-in-sc-symptoms-management-and-prevention/
