Advancing Sustainable Management of Fungal Diseases in Berry Crops

Fungal diseases pose a major threat to berry crops worldwide, affecting their productivity and quality. Emerging fungal diseases are an increasing problem in berry crops and pose new challenges to their cultivation and sustainability. The distribution and spread of fungal diseases are influenced by the movement of plant material between growing areas, environmental factors, and the presence of susceptible cultivars. Management of fungal diseases in berry crops usually involves a combination of cultural practices, chemical treatments, and the use of resistant varieties. However, the emergence of fungicide-resistant strains and the increasing demand for sustainable and environmentally friendly production methods have driven the need for innovative strategies such as anaerobic soil disinfection, development of biocontrol agents, and genetic improvement of resistance. Recent advances in disease management include the use of new molecular techniques to identify and characterize pathogenic fungi, which contributes to the development of targeted control strategies, especially against emerging diseases. In addition, the adoption of precision agriculture technologies, such as remote sensing and predictive modeling, enables early detection and timely intervention. Ongoing research also focuses on the induction of suppressing soils and the exploration of natural compounds and biopesticides as alternatives to synthetic fungicides, and the development of resistant varieties through traditional breeding or genetic engineering.

This research topic aims to advance our understanding of fungal and fungal-like diseases affecting berry crops and to develop sustainable management strategies. Specific objectives include identifying the genetic diversity and pathogenicity mechanisms of fungal pathogens, exploring biocontrol agents and their modes of action, and understanding host-pathogen interactions to enhance plant resistance. Additionally, the research seeks to investigate the impacts of climate change on the epidemiology and severity of fungal diseases and to develop integrated disease management strategies that combine cultural practices, chemical control, biological control, and resistant cultivars.

To gather further insights into the complex interactions between fungal pathogens and berry crops, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:

- Genomic analysis of fungal pathogens: genetic diversity, pathogenicity mechanisms, and potential targets for disease control
- Biocontrol agents: mode of action, application methods, and optimization for sustainable disease management
- Host-pathogen interactions: mechanisms of infection, plant defense responses, and potential targets for enhancing plant resistance
- Plant-soil microbial interactions: role in plant health and nutrition
- Epidemiology and disease forecasting: predictive models and using remote sensing technologies
- Fungicide resistance: occurrence and mechanisms of fungicide resistance, exploring alternative anti-resistance strategies
- Climate change impacts: influence of climate change on the epidemiology and severity of fungal diseases
- Sustainable disease management alternatives: anaerobic soil disinfection, suppressive soil amendments, natural compounds, plant extracts, and biopesticides
- Integrated disease management strategies: combining cultural practices, chemical control, biological control, and resistant cultivars

Authors interested in contributing to these lines of research should provide original research articles or reviews that present novel findings, methodologies, or perspectives related to the specific research area.

Potential conflict of interest: Dr. Manuel Aviles is a minority partner in a Spanish company dedicated to the procurement and commercialization of Biological Control Agents for crops (Biocontrol Technologies SL.).