Sara May*, The Pennsylvania State University – NEPDN, Swarnalatha Moparthi, North Carolina State University – SPDN, and Samantha Fieweger*, Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection – NCPDN
* Member of the NPDN Protocol and Validation committee
The Communicator: Volume 6, Issue 12, December 2025
Contact Sara May (srm183@psu.edu), Swarnalatha Moparthi (smopart@ncsu.edu), and Samantha Fieweger (sam.fieweger@wisconsin.gov) for suggestions to include.
Denotes publications with one or more authors who are members of NPDN.
Diagnostic guides
Diagnostic Guide for Geotrichum Sour rot of Sweetpotato https://doi.org/10.1094/PHP-09-25-0217-DG
Pathogens
First report of 129-L and 143-A alleles of cytB conferring QoI resistance in Colletotrichum fioriniae from highbush blueberry in the United States https://doi.org/10.1002/ndr2.70058
An outbreak of beet leafhopper-transmitted virescence agent and Spiroplasma citri in cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata) and Brussels Sprouts (B. oleracea var. gemmifera) grown in the Columbia Basin of Oregon https://doi.org/10.1094/PHP-03-25-0101-BR
Association of the pathogen Spiroplasma kunkelii with corn stunt symptoms in Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, New York, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Indiana, and Alabama During the 2024 growing season https://doi.org/10.1094/PHP-03-25-0082-SC
Clubroot disease: 145 years post-discovery, challenges, and opportunities https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-phyto-121323-020949
Fungal trunk diseases: a global threat to grapevines https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-phyto-121323-022259
Methods and protocols
Rapid detection of frogeye leaf spot pathogen in seeds by LAMP assays to protect soybean production https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-10-24-2156-SR
Notable First Reports
Herbaceous ornamentals and turfgrass:
First report of Peronospora choii causing downy mildew on Lavandula angustifolia in the United States https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-09-25-1899-PDN
First report of anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum spaethianum on ornamental onion (Allium × ‘Millenium’) in South Carolina, United States https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-07-25-1542-PDN
First report of leaf spot caused by Stemphylium lycopersici on Kalanchoe blossfeldiana in the United States https://doi.org/10.1094/PHP-04-25-0105-BR
Woody ornamentals and forests:
First report of a ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma pruni’-related strain associated with chlorosis and decline of Artemisia tridentata in Washington State https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-08-25-1663-PDN
Vegetables, herbs and table beet:
First report of Stemphylium Leaf Spot of spinach caused by Stemphylium vesicarium in New Hampshire https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-10-25-2052-PDN
Tree fruit and small fruit: berries, nuts, stone and pome fruit:
First report of Grapevine Leafroll-Associated Virus-3 infecting Vitis vinifera L. grape in Alabama https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-09-25-1829-PDN
Field crops, cannabis, sugar beet, potato, sunflower:
Pantoea-induced interveinal chlorosis (pic) - a new bacterial disease of corn and sorghum caused by Pantoea agglomerans identified in the Texas panhandle https://doi.org/10.1094/PHP-07-25-0184-RS
First report of canker and dieback caused by Diaporthe ueckeri in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) in Florida https://doi.org/10.1094/PHP-02-25-0072-BR
Peer review highlights
Fusarium stem rot and decline caused by Fusarium noneumartii and F. martii: A widespread outbreak-associated disease in California processing tomatoes, distinguishable from F. falciforme-driven foot rot https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-08-24-1773-RE
First report of on-site detection of cucurbit leaf crumple virus by an optimized RPA-lateral flow assay with an alternative endonuclease https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms262110611
Characterizing the effector repertoire of Plasmodiophora brassicae: insights into clubroot pathogenesis https://doi.org/10.1094/MPMI-10-25-0145-FI
Meta-analytic and economic evaluation of fungicide programs applied for managing sclerotinia stem rot in soybean across the North-Central United States https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTOFR-07-25-0068-R
Host Crop Influence on the Virulence of Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus Isolates in Southeast Georgia, USA https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-04-25-0142-R
Alternaria brown spot alters the bacteriome with Alternaria–bacteria interactions in mature citrus fruits https://doi.org/10.3390/jof11110778
Extension
Cyclamen: Targeting INSV https://www.e-gro.org/pdf/2025-14-48.pdf
Nematode management using sorghum and its relatives https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/IN531
Updated post-planting (fall 2025) recommendations for managing Neopestalotiopsis
