Phytophthora in forestry, natural environments, agriculture, and horticulture of the Mediterranean Basin and emerging Phytophthora threats from other regions

Polyphagous Shot Hole Borer, a Global Threat to Forest Plantations, Green Infrastructure, and Biodiversity: Status, Challenges, and Solutions

Global trade and climate change are accelerating the spread and impacts of invasive forest pests worldwide. The Polyphagous Shot Hole Borer (Euwallacea fornicatus) is among the most destructive invasive ambrosia beetles, attacking approximately 680 woody plant species across five continents and causing substantial ecological and economic losses. This review synthesizes the current knowledge of PSHB taxonomy, biology, fungal symbiosis, host range, invasion history, surveillance and management. Evidence indicates that eradication is rarely feasible once populations become established, while existing chemical and biological control measures remain of limited effectiveness, making early detection and rapid response essential. This review highlights major knowledge gaps in invasion biology, host susceptibility, fungal interactions and chemical ecology, and identifies research priorities to improve surveillance, risk prediction and integrated management. Advancing these areas will strengthen global biosecurity and enhance protection of forests, urban trees and commercial orchards.

Medicinal Plant-Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Networks in the Semi-Arid Landscapes of Marathwada: Challenges, Opportunities and Future Research

This review discusses ecological interactions between medicinal plants and AMF, their role in soil health, climate resilience, conservation, and sustainable cultivation, and identifies existing research gaps and highlights future research priorities aimed at integrating AMF-based technologies into biodiversity conservation, medicinal plant cultivation, and ecosystem restoration programs in the region.

Mycotoxin Contamination of Wild Plants in Agricultural Landscapes: Seasonal Dynamics and the Underestimated Role of Woody Species

Mycotoxin research has traditionally focused on cultivated crops, whereas wild plants growing in semi-natural vegetation remain largely unexplored despite their possible ecological importance. This study presents a comprehensive assessment of the occurrence, seasonal dynamics, organ-specific distribution, and growth-form differences of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), deoxynivalenol (DON), and zearalenone (ZEN) in wild plant species from agricultural areas of the Hungarian Plain. A total of 134 samples collected in July, August, and October were analyzed for mycotoxin contamination. All three mycotoxins were frequently detected, and only 13% of samples were free of the investigated toxins. Mycotoxin profiles changed seasonally, with multi-toxin co-occurrence predominating in July, ZEN in August, and DON in October, whereas AFB1 declined toward the end of the growing season. Growth form explained contamination patterns more strongly than plant organ: woody species showed higher AFB1 and DON contamination, whereas grasses showed higher ZEN concentrations. Although most concentrations were low, occasional extreme values approached or exceeded European Union reference values for animal feed. Our findings identify semi-natural vegetation, particularly woody species, as a previously underestimated reservoir of mycotoxins and demonstrate that seasonal dynamics and plant growth form should be considered when assessing environmental mycotoxin exposure in agricultural landscapes.

Landscape and environmental drivers of plant health decline during an active invasion of Xylella fastidiosa Wells et al. in Mediterranean agroecosystems

Invasive plant pathogens, such as Xylella fastidiosa ( Xf ), pose a major threat to global agricultural and natural ecosystems, yet their impacts are rarely assessed across agro–natural interfaces where plant diversity, landscape structure and environmental stress interact. Here, we examine how Xf infection, environmental drivers and adjacent vegetation jointly shape Xf impacts in almond orchards embedded within a forest–agriculture mosaic. We conducted field surveys in 19 almond orchards within the Xf -demarcated area of Alicante (Spain), assessing crop and wild plant health, plant composition, pathogen occurrence and climatic, topographic and landscape variables. Using generalised linear mixed models (GLMMs) within a multi-model inference framework, we show that defoliation and branch dieback in almond trees were strongly associated with Xf infection, shrub cover, landscape configuration and drought-related climatic stress. Contrary to expectations, plant diversity at the forest–agriculture interface did not buffer Xf -related damage. Instead, higher abundance of potential Xf host species in adjacent vegetation was linked to increased defoliation in infected orchards, suggesting an indirect facilitation of disease dynamics, potentially via vector persistence rather than direct pathogen spillover. In adjacent natural vegetation, plant health was more strongly influenced by abiotic stress, particularly temperature and water availability, than by Xf infection itself. Overall, our results identify key environmental and biotic correlates of invasion impact and highlight the need for landscape-scale approaches integrating climate stress, host composition and vector ecology in the forest-agriculture interface to improve risk assessment and management of invasive polyphagous pathogens.

Invasive Alien Insects in India: A Review of Ecological Impacts, Risk Assessment, Prevention and Management

Globalisation and expanding trade have increased opportunities for the introduction and establishment of invasive alien insects in India. The country’s diverse agro-climatic zones, varied habitats and extensive agricultural and forest resources create conditions in which introduced insects may establish, spread, and affect native biodiversity, ecosystem functions and human livelihoods. This review aims to synthesise available information on invasive alien insects in India, with emphasis on their invasiveness, ecological impacts, risk assessment, prevention, and management. A focused literature search was conducted using major academic databases. On the basis of the study objectives, a set of keywords and search terms was developed, including synonyms and related concepts, to broaden the scope of the search. This study highlights traits that facilitate invasion, including broad host range, high reproductive capacity, environmental tolerance, dispersal ability, insecticide resistance and interactions with host plants or native species. The review also summarises ecological consequences at genetic, population, community and ecosystem levels, including herbivory, predation, parasitism, competition, pathogen transmission, habitat disturbance and indirect effects on ecosystem processes. Risk analysis is discussed in relation to invasion pathways, climate matching, host availability, biogeographical similarity and quarantine capacity. Preventive approaches include pest risk analysis, inspection of imported goods, surveillance, early detection, and strict phytosanitary regulation. Management options include monitoring, biological control, selective chemical control, habitat management, resistant cultivars, mechanical measures, and integrated pest management. The review emphasises that coordinated surveillance, taxonomic expertise, regulatory enforcement, and eco-friendly management are required to reduce the impacts of invasive alien insects.

Biology, distribution, and management of the polyphagous invasive pest Thrips parvispinus (Karny): implications for crop protection