Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Bibi Aida Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Plant Science and Technology, Chung-Ang University, Anseong, Republic of Korea Author-Name: Deepak Kasote Author-Workplace-Name: Agricultural Research Station, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar Author-Name: Jisun Hyunsook Lee Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Plant Science and Technology, Chung-Ang University, Anseong, Republic of Korea Title: Interaction of seaweed metabolites with plants to enhance protection against biotic and abiotic stresses Abstract: Biotic and abiotic stresses severely compromise economically important food crops' nutritional quality, growth, and yield. Conversely, the conventional reliance on chemical fertilisers and pesticides has generated substantial environmental and health risks, necessitating the development of sustainable alternatives. Seaweeds are rich sources of bioactive primary and secondary metabolites, and also promising natural biostimulants for enhancing plant resilience and productivity. Specific seaweed-derived metabolites function as molecular elicitors, mimicking pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) and activating multi-layered plant defence mechanisms. This review aims to capture recent literature on the biological efficacy of seaweed extracts and their constituent metabolites, such as polysaccharides, phenolic compounds, and fatty acids, against diverse biotic stressors (e.g., bacteria, viruses, oomycetes, fungi (ascomycetes and basidiomycetes), nematodes, and herbivorous insect pests) and abiotic stressors (such as salinity, drought, extreme temperatures, and heavy metals). The biochemical, physiological, and molecular mechanisms by which seaweed-derived bioactive compounds modulate plant defence responses and stress tolerance pathways are also discussed in detail. In conclusion, seaweed extracts and derived metabolites show promising stress-type-specific effects against biotic and abiotic stresses through diverse mechanisms. However, field validation, dosage optimisation, and the discovery of novel bioactives are essential to harnessing their potential fully in sustainable agriculture. Keywords: seaweed extracts, metabolites, biotic stress, abiotic stress, plant protection, plant resilience Journal: Plant Protection Science Pages: 93-145 Volume: 62 Issue: 2 Year: 2026 DOI: 10.17221/5/2025-PPS File-URL: http://pps.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/5/2025-PPS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pps-202602-0001.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpps:v:62:y:2026:i:2:id:5-2025-PPS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Monika Kałużna Author-Workplace-Name: The National Institute of Horticultural Research, Skierniewice, Poland Author-Name: Grażyna Soika Author-Workplace-Name: The National Institute of Horticultural Research, Skierniewice, Poland Author-Name: Wojciech Warabieda Author-Workplace-Name: The National Institute of Horticultural Research, Skierniewice, Poland Title: An investigation of the presence of Xylella fastidiosa in Cicadomorpha specimens collected in different habitats in Poland Abstract: A quarantine organism, the bacterium Xylella fastidiosa (Xf), is a xylem-inhabiting, vector-transmitted, Gram-negative, and very slow-growing bacterium in the Lysobacteraceae (earlier Xanthomonadaceae) family. The spreading of X. fastidiosa over long distances occurs mainly via import/export human-mediated transportation of mainly latently or symptomatically infected plant material. Short-distance distribution is usually by xylem sap-feeding insects. Until now, the presence of X. fastidiosa has not been reported or studied in Poland. During our study, over 500 individuals from the four families: Cicadellidae, Aphrophoridae, Delphacidae and Membracidae were collected in different geographical regions of Poland. Real-time PCR with primers for rimM gene and nested PCR to detect X. fastidiosa, using DNA extracted directly from selected insects known as potential vectors of X. fastidiosa, did not confirm the bacterium's presence in these insects. Keywords: xylem-limited bacterium, insects, detection, real-time PCR, nested PCR Journal: Plant Protection Science Pages: 146-162 Volume: 62 Issue: 2 Year: 2026 DOI: 10.17221/207/2024-PPS File-URL: http://pps.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/207/2024-PPS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pps-202602-0002.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpps:v:62:y:2026:i:2:id:207-2024-PPS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Fatma Zohra Tchaker Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Nature and Life Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, Dr. Yahia Fares University, Laboratory of Biotechnology and Valorization of Biological Resources, Medea, Algeria Author-Name: Zahr-Eddine Djazouli Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Nature and Life Sciences, Blida University, Blida, Algeria Author-Name: İsmail Karaca Author-Workplace-Name: Plant Protection Departments, Faculty of Agriculture, Isparta University of Applied Sciences, Isparta, Turkey Title: Effects of aqueous extracts of Dittrichia viscosa (Asteraceae) and insecticides on life history traits of Chaitophorus leucomelas (Insecta: Aphididae) Abstract: Methods used to control insect pests have been mainly chemical. Given the irritations associated with the use of pesticides, a search for alternatives is required, particularly through the use of plant extracts. The present study focused on comparing the insecticidal power of the aqueous extracts of the whole plant Dittrichia viscosa (commonly known as false yellowhead), the aqueous extract ratio of D. viscosa, and the bio-adjuvant Silene fuscata (1 : 1), as well as the synthetic pesticides Thiamethoxam/Lambda-cyhalothrin. Abundance, fecundity, demographic parameters, and biochemical parameters (lipid-glucidic biomarkers) of the winter phenotype of the black poplar leaf aphid Chaitophorus leucomelas were considered variables to assess the effectiveness of different approaches. The results show a strong effect of the aqueous extracts of D. viscosa (A.E. Plant) on abundance, with pronounced insecticidal activity from the aqueous extract ratio (A.E. Ratio) (P < 0.05). The lipid and carbohydrate energy of sexuparae undergo significant changes depending on the products used, with a disturbing effect of the synthetic product compared to aqueous extracts (P < 0.05). Fecundity shows a remarkable disturbance under the action of the active ingredient compared to the extracts. The results confirm that the products applied cause a disturbance in the growth rate (rm) and net reproductive rate (R0) of sexuparae, with the chemical treatment having the strongest effect (P < 0.05). The full dose of the active ingredient causes remarkable disturbances in the multiplication rate (λ) and the mean generation time (T) of the sexuparae compared to the other applied molecules. Some stability is reported for the doubling time (DT) of treated females compared to the control ones. Keywords: abundance, aphid, biological control, demographic parameters, energetic biomarker, Populus nigra Journal: Plant Protection Science Pages: 163-176 Volume: 62 Issue: 2 Year: 2026 DOI: 10.17221/187/2024-PPS File-URL: http://pps.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/187/2024-PPS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pps-202602-0003.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpps:v:62:y:2026:i:2:id:187-2024-PPS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Tahseen Chikte Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Horticulture, Mendel University, Lednice, Czech Republic Author-Name: Václav Psota Author-Workplace-Name: Farma Bezdinek s.r.o., Dolni Lutyne, Czech Republic Author-Name: Michal Kumšta Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Viticulture and Enology, Faculty of Horticulture, Mendel University, Lednice, Czech Republic Author-Name: Tomáš Kopta Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Horticulture, Mendel University, Lednice, Czech Republic Title: Azadirachtin as a sustainable tool for zero pesticide residue production: Residue dissipation in open-field tomato production Abstract: The growing demand for vegetables free from pesticide residues has fuelled the search for sustainable pest management solutions. This study assessed the efficacy of azadirachtin, a neem-derived biopesticide, in achieving no detectable pesticide residues in tomato production under open-field conditions. The experiment, conducted from April to September 2024, included a systematic application and residue analysis using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). The results showed that azadirachtin degraded rapidly, with residual levels in leaves, green fruits, and mature fruits falling below the detection threshold (0.01 mg/kg) after 8-10 days following treatment. The statistical analysis revealed strong time-dependent residue dissipation, with little systemic buildup in fruit tissues. The findings suggest that azadirachtin is a viable, environmentally friendly alternative to synthetic pesticides, aligning with food safety requirements and customer preferences for pesticide residue-free fruit. Future research should investigate the ecological factors that affect degradation rates to optimise its application in diverse agro-climatic conditions. Keywords: pesticide-free vegetables, sustainable pest management, neem-derived biopesticide, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), residue analysis, synthetic pesticides, degradation rate Journal: Plant Protection Science Pages: 177-187 Volume: 62 Issue: 2 Year: 2026 DOI: 10.17221/90/2025-PPS File-URL: http://pps.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/90/2025-PPS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pps-202602-0004.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpps:v:62:y:2026:i:2:id:90-2025-PPS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Aleš Lebeda Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Palacký University in Olomouc, Olomouc, Czech Republic Title: Diversity and Geography of Cultivated Plants Abstract: Editor-in-Chief of this book Karl Hammer, emeritus professor at Kassel University (Germany), is a leading scientist in plant genetic resources (PGR) and agrobiodiversity. His research has focused on taxonomy, plant domestication, ecology, biogeography, conservation and exploitation of PGR in plant breeding. He also performed many studies and conducted missions around the globe. His life activities, knowledge and experience created an excellent background for this book. The book involves a close collaboration with two other editors, Dr. M.Á.E Pérez (Cuba) and Prof. C. Long (China), as well as eleven additional contributors from nine countries. The book is dedicated to H. Stubbe, founding director and long-time director of the Institut für Kulturpflanzenforschung in Gatersleben (Germany). Keywords: biogeography, conservation, domestication, plant genetic resources, taxonomy, variation Journal: Plant Protection Science Pages: 188-189 Volume: 62 Issue: 2 Year: 2026 DOI: 10.17221/18/2026-PPS File-URL: http://pps.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/18/2026-PPS.html File-Format: text/html Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpps:v:62:y:2026:i:2:id:18-2026-PPS