Potato Solanum tuberosum is a cornerstone food crop in China. However, its production is significantly compromised by various pests and diseases, including late blight, early blight, black scurf, blackleg, grubs, aphids, and weeds. Consequently, the scientific and judicious application of pesticides is essential for ensuring both yield and quality. As of March 20, 2025, a total of 804 pesticide products have been registered in China for potato cultivation, comprising 497 fungicides, 128 herbicides, 109 insecticides, and 70 plant growth regulators. This review evaluates the current status of these registrations, identifies the prevailing challenges, and proposes optimization strategies to enhance integrated pest management, promote the rational use of pesticides, and facilitate the sustainable development of the potato industry.

To evaluate the synergistic effects of organosilicon adjuvants on insecticides and improve the field control efficacy against the cotton aphid Aphis gossypii, the interfacial properties of Silwet819, Silwet806, Silwet820 and Silwet710 were determined. Their toxicities to cotton aphids and their synergistic ratios with sulfoxaflor and flonicamid were determined to identify the most effective adjuvants. Field trials were further conducted to evaluate their effects on reducing the application rate of flonicamid while maintaining efficacy. The results showed that among the four adjuvants, Silwet806 exhibited the strongest ability to reduce surface tension and increase maximum retention on leaf surfaces, while Silwet819 showed the greatest reduction in contact angle of leaves. All four adjuvants displayed certain insecticidal activity against cotton aphids and exhibited synergistic effects with both sulfoxaflor and flonicamid, with synergistic effects positively correlated with adjuvant concentration. At 0.05%, the synergistic ratios of Silwet819 and Silwet806 with sulfoxaflor were 5.12 and 6.71, respectively, and their synergistic ratios with flonicamid reached 12.80 and 6.40, respectively. Silwet806 and Silwet819 were identified as the most effective adjuvants, significantly enhancing the rapid efficacy of flonicamid against cotton aphids. When the application rate of flonicamid was reduced by 20% or 50%, the addition of 0.02% Silwet806 or Silwet819 achieved control efficacy comparable to the conventional dosage, while 0.05% addition resulted in higher control efficacy than the conventional treatment. These results indicate that Silwet806 and Silwet819 are optimal synergists for sulfoxaflor and flonicamid by modifying the physicochemical properties of spray solutions and reducing pesticide loss. In field control of cotton aphids, the addition of 0.02%-0.05% Silwet806 or Silwet819 can reduce flonicamid usage by 20%-50%.

Blueberries (Vaccinium spp.) are widely cultivated worldwide for their high economic and nutritional value. However, fungal diseases constitute a major biotic constraint limiting the development of the blueberry industry. To date, more than 20 fungal diseases have been reported on blueberry, causing substantial economic losses. This review systematically summarizes the pathogen species, geographic distribution, typical symptoms, and damage severity of major fungal diseases affecting blueberry production. The principal diseases discussed include stem blight, canker, root rot, leaf spot, anthracnose, powdery mildew, gray mould, and fruit rot. Previous studies have shown that severe outbreaks of these diseases may result in yield losses ranging from 20% to 85%. Pathogenic fungi associated with blueberry exhibit high diversity, encompassing over 150 species from more than 20 genera, including Diaporthe, Fusarium, Neofusicoccum, Pestalotiopsis, Phytophthora, Colletotrichum, and Alternaria. In addition, the main transmission routes of these pathogens are summarized. Based on current knowledge, integrated disease management strategies are proposed, including cultural practices, chemical control, and biological control. Furthermore, the current shortcomings in research on blueberry fungal diseases are clarified, particularly in aspects of etiology, disease epidemiology, and resistance breeding. Future work should focus on strengthening studies on pathogen biology, epidemic dynamics, breeding of high-yield, high-quality, and disease-resistant cultivars, and promoting green control technologies centered on agricultural and biological measures. Overall, this review provides both strong theoretical support and targeted practical guidance for the healthy development of the blueberry industry in China.

The evolution of insecticide resistance in pests has become a critical challenge restricting the sustainable development of global agriculture. Compared with target-site resistance and metabolic resistance, cuticular penetration resistance is an early-stage resistance strategy adopted by insects to defend against insecticides with contact action. It primarily reduces the efficiency of insecticide penetration through the insect’s outer barrier and its delivery to the target site. On one hand, it decreases the amount of insecticide that penetrates; on the other hand, it prolongs the detoxification time of the insecticide within the body, thereby enhancing the resistance effect. This mechanism often synergizes with other resistance mechanisms. This systematic review summarizes the latest research progress on the cuticle-mediated mechanisms of insecticide resistance in pests. It focuses on the molecular basis underlying the formation of cuticular penetration resistance, the key regulatory networks, and its evolutionary characteristics. Future perspectives are also discussed, aiming to provide new insights for pest resistance management strategies.

To clarify the potential suitable habitats of Moroccan locust Dociostaurus maroccanus, which was first recorded in June 2025 in Huocheng County, Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (hereafter Xinjiang), global occurrence data and environmental variables were used to predict its potential distribution in Xinjiang using the MaxEnt model under current climatic conditions and three future climate scenarios, namely SSP126 (low forcing), SSP245 (moderate forcing), and SSP585 (high forcing). The results showed that annual mean temperature, isothermality, minimum temperature of coldest month, mean temperature the driest quarter, mean temperature of the coldest quarter, precipitation of the warmest quarter, land cover classification system, and elevation were the key environmental variables affecting the distribution of D. maroccanus. Under current climatic conditions, potential suitable habitats of D. maroccanus were distributed throughout Xinjiang, with a total area of 80.98×10⁴ km², accounting for 48.78% of the total area of Xinjiang. High suitable areas were predominantly located in the Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture. By 2061—2080, the potential suitable habitats of D. maroccanus in Xinjiang are projected to expand outward overall, and the area of highly suitable habitats is expected to increase by 85.71%, 181.95%, and 224.44% under SSP126, SSP245, and SSP585 scenarios, respectively. These studies indicate that the risk of establishment of D. maroccanus in Xinjiang, China, is extremely high, and a scientific and efficient early warning, monitoring, and risk management system is urgently needed.

To elucidate the control effect of the rice metabolite betaine on rice blast and its resistance-inducing mechanism, exogenous betaine sprays at different concentrations and time points were applied to assess the resistance of rice cultivars against rice blast. The optimal concentration and timing for exogenous betaine application were screened. Furthermore, transcriptome sequencing was performed on rice treated with betaine under the optimal application conditions to analyze its resistance induction mechanism. The results showed that exogenous application of betaine effectively reduced the severity of rice blast in the susceptible rice varieties Huangkenuo and Lijiangxintuanheigu. The optimal relative control effect (40.06%) was achieved with a pretreatment of 20 mmol/L betaine applied 24 hours before inoculation with Magnaporthe oryzae. Transcriptome analysis of rice leaves pretreated with betaine indicated that differentially expressed genes were significantly enriched in the phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathway at 0, 24, and 48 hours. This treatment also induced the expression of lignin synthesis-related genes, including OsCCR17, OsCCR14, OsPAL3, OsCOMT15, OsCAD2, and the peroxidase gene OsPOX1. Additionally, lignin content and the activities of peroxidase and superoxide dismutase were significantly increased. These findings suggest that betaine induces the expression of genes involved in lignin synthesis and antioxidant enzymes, promotes lignin accumulation, and enhances antioxidant enzyme activity, thereby improving systemic resistance in rice against rice blast.

The Moroccan locust Dociostaurus maroccanus is one of the most devastating phytophagous pests worldwide. This study focuses on elucidating the current invasion status of D. maroccanus in China and comprehensively analyzes its potential risks from three aspects: habitat characteristics in invaded areas, environmental conditions, and biological traits. In combination with the Biosecurity Law of the People’s Republic of China and current control practices, targeted control strategies and recommendations are proposed. This study aims to provide a theoretical reference and a scientific basis for decision-making in the early warning and effective management of D. maroccanus in China.

To effectively prevent and control peanut pod rot, samples showing typical symptoms were collected from Qinghe Town, Tongliao City, Inner Mongolia. The pathogens were isolated and purified using the single-spore isolation method. The obtained strains were identified with morphological and molecular biological techniques, and the toxicities of ten fungicides from succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor (SDHI), quinone outside inhibitor (QoI), and demethylation inhibitor (DMI) against dominant pathogens were determined, fungicides with high toxicity were further determined for their efficacy. A total of 11 fungal strains were obtained via single-spore isolation. Morphological and molecular identification revealed that three strains were identified as Fusarium solani and eight as Botrytis cinerea, accounting for 27.27% and 72.73%, respectively. Botrytis cinerea was the predominant pathogen (with average disease severity indices of 55.09 for peanut pods and 12.50 for peanut kernels). Among SDHI, QoI, and DMI fungicides, benzovindiflupyr, pyraclostrobin, and mefentrifluconazole exhibited the highest inhibition rates against B. cinerea. In vitro tissue experiments revealed that the protective efficacy of 100 mg/L mefentrifluconazole, pyraclostrobin, and benzovindiflupyr against peanut pod rot was 60.16%, 76.42%, and 65.85%, respectively; their corresponding curative efficacy was 58.54%, 81.30%, and 68.29%, respectively. These results were comparable to those of the reference fungicide procymidone. The results showed that mefentrifluconazole, pyraclostrobin, and benzovindiflupyr could be used to prevent and control peanut pod rot.

To identify the pathogens causing grapevine root rot in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region (hereinafter referred to as Ningxia) and to explore indigenous antagonistic microorganisms for developing biocontrol agents, grapevine samples with root rot symptoms were collected from representative winery vineyards in five cities and counties of Ningxia. The pathogens were identified through isolation, identification and pathogenicity tests. Using the more virulent pathogens as indicator strains and the wine grape cultivar Cabernet Sauvignon as the experimental material, the biocontrol efficacy of bacteria isolated from the rhizosphere soil of healthy grapevines was evaluated through plate confrontation assays, mycelial growth inhibition tests and pot experiments. The results showed that the pathogens causing grapevine root rot in Ningxia were Fusarium acuminatum, Fusarium solani, Rhizoctonia solani, Neofusicoccum parvum and Lasiodiplodia theobromae, among which R. solani, N. parvum and L. theobromae are new records as pathogens of grapevine root rot. Fusarium acuminatum, R. solani, N. parvum and L. theobromae exhibited stronger pathogenicity. A total of 62 bacterial and actinomycete strains with distinct colony morphologies were isolated from the rhizosphere soil of healthy grapevines, and four strains exhibiting over 60% inhibitory activity against all four highly pathogenic fungi were selected, namely Bacillus velezensis, Streptomyces alfalfae, Amycolatopsis orientalis and Streptomyces griseus. Among these, the 10.0% sterile culture filtrate of B. velezensis exhibited the strongest inhibitory effect against the four pathogens tested, with inhibition rates ranging from 80.56% to 84.65%, and its volatile compounds exhibited the strongest inhibitory effect against L. theobromae, with an inhibition rate of 73.67%. The three antagonistic actinomycetes showed differential inhibitory effects against different pathogens. Inoculation with the four antagonistic strains via wounded root irrigation inhibited grapevine root rot to varying degrees and promoted an increase in root branch number, indicating that these four antagonistic strains exhibit significant growth-promoting and disease-suppressing effects and possess potential for development as biocontrol agents against grape root rot.

To identify the pathogen causing a natural epizootic of white muscardine in Tricentrus sp. in a tea plantation and to evaluate its potential for controlling tea green leafhopper Empoasca onukii, cadaver samples collected from the tea plantation were subjected to isolation, purification, and culture. The taxonomic status of the pathogen was determined based on morphological characteristics and phylogenetic analysis using combined sequences of Bloc, RPB1, RPB2, and TEF genes. Population genetic diversity of isolates from different hosts was analyzed using 12 SSR primer pairs. Six strains derived from hosts in Membracidea and Cicadellidae were selected to evaluate their virulence against the 3rd instar nymphs of E. onukii. The results showed that the pathogen causing the natural epizootic of white muscardine in Tricentrus sp. in the tea plantation was B. bassiana. The B. bassiana populations exhibited a high level of genetic diversity, with 100.00% polymorphic loci, a Shannon’s information index of 0.73, and a Nei’s gene diversity index of 0.39. Among the four B. bassiana populations from different hosts, the genetic differentiation coefficient was 0.38 and the gene flow was 0.54, indicating limited genetic exchange among populations. A total of 89 isolates were divided into 31 genotypes and clustered into three groups at a similarity coefficient of 0.68, with group III accounting for 76.40% of the isolates and representing the dominant group. Strain JCPX121 exhibited the highest virulence. After treatment with a conidial suspension at a concentration of 1.0×10⁸ conidia/mL for eight days, the corrected mortality rate of 3rd instar nymphs of E. onukii reached 80.66% and the median lethal time (LT₅₀) was 5.90 d. In summary, strain JCPX121 has the potential to be developed as a biocontrol agent.