Abstract: Seed-associated endophytes become active during germination, playing important roles as early colonizers of plant tissues, contributing to plant health while residing in a protective niche. In this study, we characterized a wheat-derived bacterial isolate, JunSE1L, to determine its functional traits and ecological role in the plant microbiome. The isolate was identified as Bacillus atrophaeus based on 16S rRNA analysis. JunSE1L exhibited nutrient-dependent plasticity in colony architecture, forming robust hydrophobic biofilms and pellicles under rich nutrient availability, while swarming and forming thin, often dendritic colonies under defined nutrition. JunSE1L produced highly surface-active compounds that lowered the surface tension of water to 30 mN/m and released potent proteolytic and hemolytic compounds, thus equipping JunSE1L for offensive roles, as examined against several fungal pathogens. JunSE1L inhibited Fusarium proliferatum and Mucor hiemalis in live-cell assays, while cell-free supernatant selectively inhibited M. hiemalis. JunSE1L was recovered from multiple plant compartments, including rhizosphere, rhizoplane, and aerial tissues, and was observed to emerge from cut plant tissues, supporting seed-endophyte mobilization upon germination to colonize distal tissues. Seed surface inoculation experiments with JunSE1L showed limited attachment at low cell densities and reduced seedling vigor at higher inoculum levels, supporting agricultural approaches nurturing the existing seed microbiome.

Abstract: Dioecious plants often exhibit sex-specific physiological strategies that influence their re-sponse to environmental change. However, it is not well understood whether such di-morphism extends to the developmental trajectory of the photosynthetic apparatus during natural senescence. In this study, we compared the seasonal development and decline of photosystem II (PSII) function in naturally grown male and female Ginkgo biloba using non-destructive fast chlorophyll a fluorescence induction kinetics (OJIP) and JIP-test anal-ysis. Sun-exposed, healthy leaves were sampled at approximately 15‑day intervals from 18 July to 26 November 2024 [day of year, (DOY 188–332)]. The study monitored chloro-phyll content and OJIP-derived parameters, and evaluated sex differences statistically (P < 0.05). Chlorophyll content began to decline after DOY 268 in both sexes, but decreased ear-lier and more rapidly in males. By DOY 332, male chlorophyll content fell to 1.37 % of its level at DOY 268, whereas females retained 9.55 %. OJIP fluorescence transient analysis revealed that ΔWoj shifted from negative to positive values after DOY 268 in male plants, accompanied by a sustained increase in the relative variable fluorescence at the J step (Vj). This pattern indicates an earlier and more pronounced acceptor-side limitation of PSII in male plants, associated with accelerated accumulation of QA⁻ and restricted electron transfer from QA⁻ to QB and the plastoquinone (PQ) pool. In addition, male plants showed a clearer donor-side limitation, with a pronounced ΔWOK response, suggesting reduced stability of the oxygen-evolving complex (OEC). In contrast, females maintained higher cross-section–based energy fluxes (TR0/CS0, ET0/CS0) and PSI-end acceptor reduction ca-pacity (RE0/CS0), and exhibited a slower decline in integrated performance indices (PI abs, PI total, DF abs). Principal component analysis further suggested that male senescence trajectories were more tightly associated with changes in electron-transport efficiency, whereas females exhibited a more gradual adjustment in energy-flux allocation. Collec-tively, these results reveal pronounced sexual dimorphism in the PSII–PSI functional de-cline pathway during natural senescence in G. biloba and provide a physiological basis for sex-aware evaluation and utilisation of ginkgo resources.

Abstract: Flavonoids are frequently presented as health-beneficial compounds of plants, and derived anthocyanins are famous for striking flower colors. The biosynthesis of flavonoids has been studied for decades and developed into a model system. Despite thousands of publications about this pathway, there are still open questions about fundamental parts of the anthocyanin biosynthesis. Here we review the evolution of the anthocyanin biosynthesis and highlight open questions - some of which are sitting in plain sight.

Abstract: Ecological restoration and nature repair combat ecosystem and land degradation, biodiversity loss and climate change. Yet seedling recruitment failure and perilously low plant survival (6-11%, often less) result in mass seed wastage. To understand its ability to improve seed use efficiency for restoration, the powerful germination stimulant karrikinolide or KAR₁ (3-methyl-2H-furo [2,3-c]pyran-2-one) was evaluated for on-demand seed germination stimulation and plant recruitment in core restoration species. In line with global trends, our research demonstrated that KAR₁ promoted on-demand germination in 82% of species across nine families. Our pioneering work also showed improved outcomes for deteriorating (aged) seeds and higher seedling recruitment, thereby enhancing seed use efficiency. The commercially available stimulant, gibberellic acid (GA₃), provided no assistance beyond seed germination, suggesting KAR₁ cannot be readily substituted. We recommend that KAR₁ has the potential to meaningfully enhance seed use efficiency for nature restoration once challenges like cost and KAR₁ delivery issues are overcome.

Abstract: Biological systems such as gene regulatory networks (GRNs) acquire robustness by feedback and feed-forward loops. Although many adaptations and robustness of biological systems seem to be implemented through feedback loops, feed-forward loops were demonstrated computationally and in synthetic biology applications to be as effective as feedback loops.

Abstract:

The genus Eugenia (Myrtaceae) is widely distributed in Brazil and is known for producing diverse secondary metabolites with various biological activities, although several species remain poorly explored. This study aimed to characterize the chemical composition of essential oils (EOs) from the leaves of seven Eugenia species (E. brasiliensis, E. involucrata, E. longipedunculata, E. myrcianthes, E. neoverrucosa, E. pyriformis, and E. uniflora), compare their chemical profiles using multivariate analysis, and evaluate their insecticidal activity against the flea Ctenocephalides felis felis. EOs were obtained from dried leaves by hydrodistillation using a Clevenger apparatus and analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Principal component analysis (PCA) was applied to compare chemical compositions, and contact bioassays were conducted to assess insecticidal activity against adult fleas. The EOs showed distinct chemical compositions, with major constituents including α-pinene, (E)-caryophyllene, viridiflorene, β-selinene, limonene, and germacrone, depending on the species. PCA revealed clear differences among species, particularly highlighting oils dominated by α-pinene and sesquiterpene-derived compounds. In the bioassays, E. uniflora showed the highest insecticidal activity, reaching 95.1% mortality at 800 µg·cm⁻² and presenting an LC₅₀ of 9.12 µg·cm⁻², whereas E. brasiliensis showed moderate activity (LC₅₀ = 157.82 µg·cm⁻²). These findings expand the chemical knowledge of the genus and indicate the potential of E. uniflora EO as a natural source of compounds with insecticidal activity against C. felis felis.

Abstract: Metal homeostasis, which coordinates the influx and efflux of essential elements such as iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn) in chloroplasts, is essential for optimum photosynthesis, especially in metal accumulating plants. Brassica juncea (Indian mustard) is a metal-tolerant species with a strong metal accumulation capacity, making it a suitable model for studying transition metal homeostasis. In this study, we identified two efflux transporters, BjYSL6.1 and BjYSL6.4, that localize in the endomembrane system of Schizosaccharomyces pombe and interact with the chloroplast Mn influx transporter BjNRAMP4.1 at the plasma membrane and within the chloroplasts. Bimolecular fluorescence complementation and split-ubiquitin yeast two-hybrid assays confirmed specific protein-protein interactions among these transporters, as well as with the membrane-bound thioredoxin BjHCF164, a known regulator of photosynthetic electron transport. Gene expression studies revealed that BjNRAMP4.1 and BjYSL6 isoforms are inversely regulated under Fe and Mn stress conditions, with BjNRAMP4.1 being strongly induced under deficiency, whereas BjYSL6.1 and BjYSL6.4 are downregulated. These findings suggest that a coordinated network involving BjNRAMP4.1, BjYSL6s, and BjHCF164 modulates metal influx and efflux at the chloroplast and plasma membrane interfaces, thereby maintaining metal homeostasis, which is critical for photosynthetic efficiency in B. juncea.

Abstract: Anthocyanins and betalains are hydrophilic plant pigments with numerous physiological and ecological functions. The biosynthesis routes of anthocyanins and betalains differ with anthocyanins being synthesized from phenylalanine via the general phenylpropanoid pathway, whereas betalains are derived from tyrosine. Although the precursors phenylalanine and tyrosine are present in all plants, there is no known plant where both these pigments are co-accumulated. Most plants synthesize anthocyanins, while certain families in the order Caryophyllales produce betalains. There is apparent mutual exclusion of these two plant pigments. Over the past five decades, evidence accumulated supporting this theory of mutual exclusion of the two pigments. However, recently published reports claim the presence of anthocyanins in well-known betalain-pigmented plants. Here, we explore the causes of such claims and provide recommendations for future studies on the topic.

Abstract:

Jatropha curcas L. is a bioenergy crop of interest because of the high oil content in its seeds suitable for conversion into biofuels. However, its oil content is extremely variable among accessions and the mechanism of oil accumulation is poorly understood in this oleaginous species. In this study we analyzed cloned plants of three chemotypes of J. curcas collected in Chiapas, Mexico: CAC-3, COM-1 and MAP-2. All are monoecious and accumulating different amounts of seed oil: 10 %, 30 % and 54 %. We studied the expression of the β-ketoacyl-acyl carrier protein (ACP) synthase genes (KAS) in developing seeds and their relationship with the content and composition of the oil. Differences of the levels of expression of the KASI and KASII genes were found, while KASIII gene was expressed at high levels in all three chemotypes. The expression of KASI and KASII was statistically associated to the oil accumulation. Results of this study are discussed based on the regulation of the transcription of the KAS genes, in order to contribute to the understanding of the oil accumulation in the seed and could be of value for designing biotechnological strategies with which to improve this species.

Abstract:

The ‘Tenuifoliae irises’ are a distinctive group of beardless, rhizomatous perennial irises, which are characterised by their somewhat vertical rhizomes, typically clothed at the apex with long maroon-brown, sharp fibrous remains of leaf sheaths; perianth tube long, filiform to scapiform; stigma bilobed; capsules often trigonous to six-ribbed, apically beaked; and seeds angulose to subcubic or pyriform, lacking fleshy appendages, and with testa hard, irregularly wrinkled. The representatives of the aggregate are mostly native to the dry steppes and grasslands from lowland to high mountain habitats of Central and Eastern Asia, extending westwards to the Black Sea and Caspian regions. Morphological classification of the ‘Tenuifoliae irises’ recognises about ten to eleven species, which are arranged into two genera, Sclerosiphon to Cryptobasis. Diverse molecular research recovered members of the ‘Tenuifoliae irises’ in contrasting placements within the ‘Iris-flower clade’. Sometimes, Sclerosiphon was sister to Eremiris, but Cryptobasis aligned with the ‘Spuria irises’ (Chamaeiris) and the ‘Spanish irises’ (Xiphion and related genera); in other cases, both Sclerosiphon and Cryptobasis formed a clade sister to Chamaeiris, or Cryptobasis alone was identified as the basal member of the Iris s.l. clade, positioned immediately after Siphonostylis. To examine these taxonomic discrepancies within a rigorous molecular‑systematic framework and using 12 reliably authenticated specimens, we generated 24 sequences of the matK gene (12) and the trnL (UAA)–trnF (GAA) loci (12) from members of the ‘Tenuifoliae irises’. These sequences were subsequently incorporated into a comprehensive dataset of the ‘Iris‑flower clade’, enabling a broader analytical assessment. The obtained three-taxon statement hierarchy of patterns and maximum likelihood phylogenetic trees both recover the ‘Tenuifoliae irises’ as monophyletic and sister to Chamaeiris, and in turn to the ‘Xiphion s.l. clade’. We also found Sclerosiphon and Cryptobasis as sister genera. The morphological and karyological data supporting those relationships are discussed, which allow getting back to Rodionenko’s sources and recovering Sclerosiphon in his original sense, alongside Cryptobasis. Furthermore, the molecular results allow us expanding Sclerosiphon to include the Eastern Chinese members of the aggregate. In consequence, five new combinations (one series and four species) are established in the genus, one lectotype is designated, and data on nomenclature, distribution and ecology of the accepted species are reported.

Abstract: Salinity stress is one of the major obstacle worldwide for the glycophytic crop production, including rice. It alters the cellular metabolism, causing significant crop destruction resulting in substantial reductions in yield. Through genetic engineering, the oxidative stress can be decreased while increasing the photosynthetic capability by using C3 transgenic plants that produce the C4 enzymes like phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) at a high level. In this research, we evaluate the efficiency of transgenic rice plants (Oryza sativa L. cv. IR64) over-expressing PEPCK genes to act against salinity stress as well as increasing its photosynthetic efficiency. The T1 transgenics showed increased levels of several biochemical factors, including ascorbate peroxidase (APX), malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione reductase (GR) and guaiacol peroxidase (GPX) activities suggesting the existence of an effective antioxidant defense mechanism that helps the plants to deal with oxidative damage driven by salt stress. The photosynthetic parameters like chlorophyll contents, net photosynthetic rate, intercellular CO2 content and stomatal conductance were elevated in transgenic plants when compared with the control plants (null seggregant). It also exhibited higher agronomic characteristics than the control plant. Our findings add a conclusive evidence of PEPCK gene’s potential role in regulating salt stress response and tolerance of rice plants.

Abstract: An extensive survey of early blight of tomato was conducted in Peshawar and Hazara divisions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, during the fruit bearing period of 2014 of the crop. Comparatively more disease incidence and severity was observed in Peshawar than Hazara Division. Data also revealed that more disease was prevalent in district Haripur than Abbottabad and Mansehra. The isolates of Alternaria solani collected during the survey were different in terms of their cultural characteristics and aggressiveness. Isolates from Peshawar division showed rapid growth on Potato Dextrose Agar medium and produced higher number of spores ml−1 as compared to isolates collected from Hazara Division. Moreover these also produced the largest size lesion (20.6mm) when compared with those collected from Hazara Division. A positive linear trend was observed when lesion size was regressed over colony diameter and spores concentration indicating that isolates showing aggressiveness also showed more radial growth and produced more spores mlˉ1. The studies also confirmed the existence of cultivar specific aggressiveness amongst the isolates of A. solani in screen house experiment. Isolates adapted on respective cultivars caused high disease severity, number of lesions per plant and lesion size with concurrent reduction in yield. Isolate AsRJ previously adapted on variety Red Jambo when inoculated on the same variety produced high disease severity (64.02%) and lesion size (8.2mm), with the lowest yield (436.71g). A similar trend was observed for other isolate and cultivar combinations which could have serious implications for cultivation of a particular variety on vast acreages over time.

Abstract: Bacterial panicle blight (BPB) of rice, a disease caused by Burkholderia glumae and B. gladioli, threatens global rice yields and has recently emerged in Bangladesh. Three hundred BPB-infected samples from 20 Bangladesh districts were analyzed using S-PG medium and gyrB PCR amplification, identifying 46 B. gladioli and 5 B. glumae potential isolates. Twenty of these isolates were chosen for in-depth characterization. Pathogenicity tests identified BD_21g (B. glumae) as the most virulent strain, followed by BDBgla132A (B. gladioli). Disease severity on rice strongly correlated with onion bulb assays, validating the assay as a rapid virulence-screening tool. Phenotypic characterization of the 20 isolates revealed substantial variation in toxoflavin production, lipase activity, polygalacturonase activity, motility, and type III secretion system. Comparative genomic analysis of virulence-associated genes between BDBgla132A and BD_21g showed high protein sequence identity, particularly in toxoflavin biosynthesis and transport genes, while genes encoding lipase (lipA/lipB), polygalacturonase (pehA/pehB), and those involved in motility, displayed moderate to high identity. Both strains retained virulence-related genes that are homologous to those of B. cepacia but displayed differential virulence strategies. Retrotranscribed-qPCR revealed significantly higher expression of toxoflavin and lipase-encoding genes in BD_21g compared with BDBgla132A, consistent with its elevated enzymatic activities. Conversely, BD_21g showed reduced expression of pectinolytic and flagellar genes over BDBgla132A, consistent with the enhanced pectinolytic activity and motility observed in BDBgla132A. These findings reveal that BD_21g (B. glumae) and BDBgla132A (B. gladioli) rely on different virulence strategies to infect rice, providing critical insights for developing targeted BPB management approaches in Bangladesh.

Abstract: This ethnobotanical study documents medicinal plant diversity and traditional healing practices in Barguna District, a coastal region of Bangladesh. Twenty-seven traditional healers (kabiraj) were interviewed using semi-structured questionnaires during April-June 2025. A total of 68 medicinal plant species representing 34 botanical families were documented. Fabaceae emerged as the most represented family (10.3%), followed by Lamiaceae (8.8%). Trees constituted the dominant growth form (35.3%), with leaves being the most frequently utilized plant part (32.4%). The documented species treat twelve major ailment categories, with gastrointestinal disorders (22.8%) being most prevalent. Informant Consensus Factor (FIC) values ranged from 0.62 to 0.89, with gastrointestinal disorders showing highest consensus (FIC = 0.89), followed by respiratory ailments (FIC = 0.85) and diabetes (FIC = 0.82). Citation Frequency (Cf) analysis revealed Azadirachta indica (Cf = 0.89), Ocimum sanctum (Cf = 0.81), and Curcuma longa (Cf = 0.78) as culturally most significant species. Decoction (34.6%) and paste application (23.4%) were predominant preparation methods, with oral administration (61.2%) being most common. The demographic profile indicated that 81.5% of healers acquired knowledge through family inheritance, highlighting intergenerational transmission patterns. However, this traditional knowledge faces erosion threats from modernization, with 44.4% of practitioners lacking formal education and 18.5% aged above 60 years. The study reveals substantial ethnomedicinal diversity in coastal ecosystems, emphasizing the urgent need for conservation strategies, sustainable harvesting protocols, and systematic pharmacological validation to preserve indigenous knowledge while supporting rural healthcare and drug discovery initiatives.

Abstract: Common bunt of wheat (Tilletia spp.) remains a significant threat to wheat production in low-input and organic farming systems, where chemical seed treatments are restricted or avoided. Host resistance represents a key component of sustainable disease control, but it’s effective deployment requires detailed knowledge of race-specific virulence and the genetic basis of resistance. In this study, we analysed the reaction of a large and diverse wheat germplasm collection to current European populations of common bunt and mapped the underlying resistance genes using SNP-based approaches. A total of 2,731 wheat accessions were phenotyped from 2012 to 2025 using up to 42 purified bunt races with well-defined virulence profiles. Based on phenotypic responses to race-specific resistance patterns , accessions were grouped, and compared with established differential lines. A total of 1504 selected accessions were genotyped using Illumina 26k SNP arrays, and resistance loci were identified by genome-wide association studies followed by fine mapping using recombination analysis. All classical Bt resistance genes from Bt1 to Bt10 and Bt13 were mapped to defined physical intervals, and the genomic positions of 16 additional race-specific resistance genes were identified in the panel of germplasm. Our results confirm that several historically defined Bt genes including Bt11 and Bt12 represent multi-gene resistance complexes rather than single loci. Also, genes established as separate genes may possibly be identical, including Bt4 being identical to Bt6, Bt10 being identical BtZ and Bt9 possibly being identical to one of the genes in the Bt11 complex. These finding highlights the need for revised nomenclature of genes and differetial set of varieties. The identified resistance haplotypes provide an improved tool for marker-assisted selection, and support the development of wheat cultivars with durable resistance to common bunt.

Abstract: The intensive use of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers has raised environmental concerns. Sustainable alternatives, such as plant biostimulants and plant resistance inducers, offer promising solutions by enhancing growth, yield, stress tolerance, or activating defense responses against pathogens. However, the physiological impacts and combined effects of these products remain poorly understood, limiting evidence-based application strategies. Here, we evaluated the effects of a biostimulant and a plant defense inducer on durum wheat (Triticum turgidum ssp. durum), a key cereal crop in the Mediterranean Basin. Using controlled experiments, we assessed plant growth, chlorophyll content, and resistance to Zymoseptoria tritici, while considering potential trade-offs between growth promotion and defense activation. As expected, our results indicate that the biostimulant improved growth and photosynthetic performance, whereas the plant resistance inducer enhanced protection against Z. tritici. But the combination of these two treatments can trigger mitigated interaction effects, influenced by varietal genetic background. This study provides novel insights into the interactions between plant growth promotion and defense induction in durum wheat. Understanding these multi-factorial effects (in particular genotype effect) enables the identification of optimal treatment strategies, supporting the development of sustainable crop management practices that reduce chemical inputs while maintaining productivity and resilience under biotic stress.

Abstract: Agriculture faces escalating challenges from pests, diseases, and climatic stresses that threaten global food security [1,2]. Green nanotechnology offers a sustainable approach to enhance crop protection and productivity by using plant-based methods to synthesize metallic nanoparticles (NPs), reducing chemical inputs and environmental impacts [3,4]. This review presents the framework of green nanotechnology in agriculture, focusing on biogenic sources of nanoparticle synthesis (especially plant extracts), mechanisms of nanoparticle formation and stabilization by phytochemicals, and characterization techniques for green-synthesized NPs. We examine the application of plant-derived metallic nanoparticles as nanofertilizers to improve nutrient use efficiency and crop yields, as nanopesticides to manage plant pathogens and pests, and as nano-enabled agents to enhance tolerance to abiotic stresses such as salinity and drought. Recent studies demonstrate that green-synthesized NPs can significantly increase crop growth and productivity while reducing dependence on conventional agrochemicals [5]. The review also discusses key challenges limiting large-scale adoption, including production scalability, biological variability in synthesis, potential phytotoxicity at high concentrations, regulatory uncertainties, and gaps in knowledge regarding nanoparticle fate and safety [6,7]. Overall, green-synthesized metallic nanoparticles emerge as promising tools for improving crop productivity and protection in an eco-friendly manner, supporting the transition toward more sustainable agricultural systems.

Abstract: Drought is a major constraint on crop productivity, and microbial inoculants are in-creasingly explored to mitigate plant water stress. However, most inoculant discovery pipelines rely on trait-based screening performed outside the ecological context in which beneficial plant-microbe interactions naturally arise. In natural soils, drought-exposed plants can reshape the rhizosphere environment by altering carbon allocation and root exudation, thereby selectively recruiting microorganisms compatible with water-limited conditions and effectively performing an ecological pre-selection. Here, we captured this process during early seedling establishment and leveraged drought-driven rhizosphere recruitment as a nature-guided strategy to nominate bac-terial inoculant candidates. Tomato seedlings were grown in natural agricultural soil microcosms under well-watered and drought-stressed regimes, and cultivable bacteria were comparatively isolated from rhizosphere and bulk soil fractions. Recruit-ment-prioritized isolates were subsequently characterized through biochemical assays and genome-informed analyses to provide functional and taxonomic context, and were evaluated in early inoculation assays under water stress. Drought-recruited isolates displayed distinct plant-associated responses, and genome-scale taxonomy indicated that one drought-associated isolate represents a genomically distinct lineage within the genus Paracoccus. Together, these findings highlight drought-driven rhizosphere re-cruitment as an ecologically grounded framework for identifying stress-compatible bacterial candidates and uncovering previously undescribed rhizosphere diversity.

Abstract: Controlled environment agriculture (CEA) relies on hydroponic systems to achieve high yields, yet optimizing plant performance remains a challenge. Beneficial endophytic bacteria offer a sustainable solution by promoting growth and nutrient uptake. Here, we investigated the mechanistic basis of growth enhancement in lettuce (Lactuca sativa) inoculated with Pseudomonas psychrotolerans IALR632 in a nutrient film technique (NFT) system. Growth measurements showed significant increases in shoot and root biomass and leaf greenness. RNA-Seq profiling at 4, 10, and 15 days after transplanting revealed dynamic transcriptional reprogramming, with 38, 796, and 7,642 differentially expressed genes, respectively. MapMan and GO analyses indicated up regulation of pathways related to cell wall remodeling, lipid metabolism, nitrogen assimilation, and stress adaptation, alongside modulation of ethylene signaling. Root microbiome sequencing demonstrated distinct community shifts confirmed by Analysis of Similarity (ANOSIM) (R = 1, p = 0.028), with enrichment of genera linked to nutrient cycling and plant growth promotion. These findings provide integrated molecular and ecological evidence that IALR632 enhances lettuce growth by coordinating host gene expression and rhizobiome restructuring, offering a mechanistic framework for microbial inoculant strategies in hydroponic horticulture.

Abstract:

Dactylis glomerata L. is a globally important cool-season forage grass with high ecological and economic value. During field surveys conducted in three counties of the Ili region of Xinjiang: Zhaosu County, Tekes County, and Xinyuan County, a previously unreported root rot disease was observed on wild orchardgrass, with disease incidence ranging from 20 % to 72 %. The most severe symptoms were recorded in Zhaosu County. The pathogen was isolated and identified as Bipolaris sorokiniana based on morphological characteristics and multilocus phylogenetic analyses of ITS, GAPDH, and TEF gene sequences. The results of biological characteristics showed that the optimal conditions for mycelial growth were 25℃, pH 7, continuous light for 24 h, potato sucrose agar (PSA) as the culture medium, soluble starch as the optimal carbon source, and peptone as the optimal nitrogen source. In vitro fungicide sensitivity assays indicated that all nine tested fungicides significantly inhibited mycelial growth of B. sorokiniana. Among them, difenoconazole exhibited the highest inhibitory activity, with an EC₅₀ value of 0.0706 mg·L^-1, followed by tebuconazole (EC₅₀ = 0.3606 mg·L^-1) and tetramycin (EC₅₀ = 0.6815 mg·L^-1). These findings provide a scientific basis for further studies on disease epidemiology, pathogenic mechanisms, and integrated management of this disease.