Stevia (Stevia rebaudiana, L.) is receiving increasing global interest as a diabetes-focused herb associated with zero-calorie stevioside sweetener glycoside production. This study was conducted to determine whether the arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM), as a biofertilizer integrated with nano boron (B), zinc (Zn), and molybdenum (Mo), would improve stevia growth and stevioside content. A factorial experiment with four replicates was conducted to evaluate the effect of AM at 0, 150, and 300 spore/g soil and three nano microelements B at 100 mg/L, Zn at 100 mg/L, and Mo at 40 mg/L on growth performance, stevioside, mineral contents, and biochemical contents of stevia. Results indicated that the combination of AM at 150 and B at 100 mg/L significantly increased plant height, number of leaves, fresh and dry-stem, and herbal g/plant during the 2019 and 2020 growing seasons. Chlorophyll content was increased by the combination between AM at 150 spore/g soil and B at 100 mg/L during both seasons. Stevioside content in leaves was increased by AM at 150 spore/g soil and B at 100 mg/L during the second season. In addition, N, P, K, Zn, and B in the leaf were increased by applying the combination of AM and nano microelements. Leaf bio constituent contents were increased with AM at 150 spore/g soil and B at 100 mg/L during both seasons. The application of AM and nano B can be exploited for high growth, mineral, and stevioside contents as a low-calorie sweetener product in stevia.

To study the effect of different levels of potassium humate and boron fertilization, two field trials were carried out in a private farm at El-Nubaria region, (latitude of 30.86° N, longitude of 31.16° E and altitude of 21 m above sea level) El-Bahira Governorate, Egypt in 2018/2019 and 2019/2020 seasons. This work included sixteen treatments, represent the combinations of four levels of potassium humate as a soil application (0, 2.5, 5 and 7.5 kg/fed) and four levels of boron (zero, 70, 140 and 210 ppm/fed) as a foliar application in the form of boric acid 17% boron), which sprayed thrice at 50, 65 and 80 days from sowing and their effect on growth, yield and quality of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris var. saccharifera, L.). A split-plot design in three replications was done. The results revealed that fertilizing sugar beet with 7.5 kg potassium humate resulted in higher values of leaf area index (LAI), photosynthetic pigments, root diameter, fresh and foliage weights/plant, sucrose, sugar lost to molasses, extractable sugar percentages, quality index, root and sugar yields/fed in both seasons. However, the sodium content of roots was insignificantly affected by the studied potassium humate levels in both seasons. It was found that higher values of leaf area index (LAI), root diameter, fresh and foliage weights/plant, sucrose, sugar lost to molasses, sugar extractable percentages and quality index, as well as root, top and sugar yields/fed, were obtained with increasing boron application to 210 ppm/fed. otherwise, photosynthetic pigments, K, Na and alfa-amino N contents were insignificantly affected by the applied boron levels in both seasons. Fertilizing beet plants with 7.5 kg potassium humat/fed + 210 ppm boron resulted in a significant increase of LAI, chlorophyll (a), (b), root diameter and yield/fed compared to other combinations in both seasons. Under conditions of this work, the maximum root and sugar yields/fed were obtained by fertilizing beets with 7.5 kg potassium humate/fed as a soil application and spraying beets with 210 ppm boron/fed at three times (50, 65 and 80 days) after sowing.

Sugar beet ( Beta vulgaris var. saccharum, L.), a primary contributor to the worldwide sugar market, suffers severely from powdery mildew caused by Erysiphe betae , which reduces the photosynthetic efficiency and therewith yields. This study presents molecular docking analysis and randomized complete block design (RCBD) field trials with nutrient foliar sprays to identify disease management strategies. The interaction study in silico analysis using AutoDock Vina indicated tight-binding interactions of metal sulfates with the chitinase enzyme that degrades the fungal cell wall, where the metal sulfates MgSO ₄ (-4.03 kcal/mol) and ZnSO ₄ (-3.88 kcal/mol) exhibited significant inhibitory effects. Under natural infection conditions for field validation, a significant reduction in disease severity was observed using copper sulfate (81.56% reduction), comparable to a commercial fungicide. Foliar applications of nutrients improved agronomic traits. Root yield increased by 38% and total sugar yield by 90% compared to un-treated controls. Biochemical analysis revealed significantly enhanced defense responses, including elevated levels of total phenols (76% increase with Copper Sulphate), increased enzymatic activities (peroxidase up to 0.482 U/min/g and catalase up to 0.725 U/min/g), higher protein content (up to 11.29 mg/g), and enhanced proline accumulation (up to 3.54 mg/g) compared to controls. This study highlights the promise of nutrient foliar applications as an environmentally sustainable approach that could replace conventional fungicides to control powdery mildew in sugar beet production.

Cercospora leaf spot (CLS), caused by Cercospora beticola , is a severe threat to sugar beet ( Beta vulgaris ) production in Egypt’s Nile Delta and poses resistance and ecological problems to synthetic fungicides. This study investigates Alhagi maurorum (camelthorn), an endemic medicinal shrub of arid regions, and evaluates it as a sustainable plant-sourced biofungicide for integrated CLS management. Following molecular confirmation of C. beticola (PCR amplified actin gene, 959 bp; ITS region sequenced and deposited in GenBank under accession PX884367), A. maurorum ethanolic extract (GC–MS) profiling of the ethyl iso-allocholate (1.39%), squalene (7.81%), and methyl oleate (27.33%) was determined as the antifungal constituents from GC–MS profiling. Molecular docking highlighted ethyl iso-allocholate’s dual inhibition of CYP51 (− 8.4 kcal/mol) and CHS (− 6.5 kcal/mol), critical for fungal ergosterol biosynthesis and cell wall integrity. In vitro assays demonstrated complete fungal suppression at 10% extract concentration, mirroring the synthetic fungicide Score®. The efficacy of the extract in controlling disease (66.4–71.5% disease control), along with increased root yield (34.23 tons/fed) and sucrose purity (91.81–92.38%) in two-season field trials, was validated in CLS endemic Kafr EL Sheikh. The biochemical analyses of treated plants showed elevated antioxidant defenses, reflected in phenolics (184.43–186.73 mg/g) and superoxide dismutase (SOD: 122.10–123.77 U/g), to protect the plants against oxidative stress. As an eco-friendly alternative to synthetic fungicides, the extract has biodegradability, pharmacokinetic suitability, and multi-target action. By bridging phytochemistry, computational biology, and field agronomy, this work advances integrated, climate-resilient strategies for CLS management and underscores the potential of arid-adapted plants in sustainable agriculture.

Sugar beet is a key crop for the sugar industry, increasingly reliant on eco-friendly inputs to meet rising global demand. Plant growth-promoting rhizobact