Plant Viruses as Master Manipulators: Exploiting Host Plants and Insect Vectors for Enhanced Transmission.

Endosymbiont effects on vector manipulation by insect‐borne plant viruses

It is argued that endosymbionts are often a key component of the selective environment experienced by vectors and viruses and hypothesize that they may play important roles in modulating the direction and magnitude of virus‐induced effects on plant–insect interactions.

Molecular dialogues in plant rhabdovirus-host interactions.

Recent advances in understanding plant rhabdovirus-host interactions are summarized, with a focus on the molecular basis underlying viral manipulation of host functions, which establish an integrated framework for understanding the cross-kingdom pathogenesis of plant rhabdoviruses.

Leveraging plant virus-vector molecular interactions for innovative vector and disease control.

This review summarizes recent progress in elucidating plant virus-vector molecular interactions and their potential use in innovative strategies for virus and vector control.

The role of the plant microbiome in modulating plant immune responses in disease management: A review

The plant microbiome, which encompasses diverse communities of bacteria, fungi, archaea, viruses and oomycetes that colonise plant surfaces and internal tissues, is a critical determinant of plant health, resilience and productivity. This review systematically examines how plant-associated microbial communities modulate plant immune signalling pathways, with particular emphasis on pattern-triggered immunity (PTI), effector-triggered immunity (ETI), systemic acquired resistance (SAR) and induced systemic resistance (ISR). Critical evaluation of the molecular mechanisms through which beneficial microorganisms prime host defences, including microbe-associated molecular pattern (MAMP) perception, salicylate and jasmonate signalling cascades, reactive oxygen species (ROS) dynamics and transcriptional reprogramming of immune networks. Additionally, we address pathogen-mediated immune suppression strategies, including effector-driven interference, hormonal hijacking and pathobiome-associated dysbiosis, drawing explicit connections to the limitations of classical Koch's postulates in the context of community-level disease causation. This review further explores how environmental factors, including climate change, drought and agricultural intensification, reshape the microbiome composition and immune competence. Translational applications, including synthetic microbial communities (SynComs), microbiome-assisted breeding and microbiome restoration strategies, have been evaluated for field efficacy, scalability and regulatory feasibility. Current methodological limitations and future research priorities are discussed to guide the development of microbiome-informed, climate-resilient and sustainable disease management frameworks. This review highlights the transformative potential of harnessing plant microbiomes for next-generation agricultural protection strategies.

Light governed plant–microbe interactions: the role of light in biotic stress resilience

Beneath the Bark: Molecular Determinants of Adaptation and Infection in Bacterial Pathogens of Woody Hosts

Bacterial pathogens of woody plants represent a pervasive yet underexplored threat to global agriculture and forestry, causing devastating diseases in fruit trees, shrubs, forest trees and ornamental species. Unlike pathogens of herbaceous plants, the molecular strategies enabling bacteria to colonise and damage woody tissues remain poorly understood, owing to the experimental challenges associated with woody host systems and the distinctive biology of these plants. Moreover, persistence within long‐lived woody tissues requires prolonged modulation of host immune signalling, enabling pathogens to evade or attenuate defence responses across growing seasons. This review synthesises current knowledge of the virulence mechanisms underlying bacterial infection of woody hosts, highlighting host‐specific strategies and conserved pathways critical for disease establishment. Key mechanisms include manipulation of plant immune responses through type III secretion system effectors and other secreted proteins, catabolism of host‐derived metabolites, degradation of structural barriers, and the activity of bacterial toxins and extracellular polysaccharides. By integrating these molecular insights, we examine how bacterial pathogens have evolved adaptive strategies to overcome the unique challenges posed by woody tissues and emphasise the implications for disease management in economically important crops. Addressing knowledge gaps in woody‐host infections is essential for developing innovative, targeted strategies to mitigate the impact of these pathogens and safeguard global woody crops and forestry systems.