Plant trade coupled with climate change has led to the increased spread of well-known and new Phytophthora species, a group of fungus-like organisms placed in the Kingdom Chromista. Their presence in plant nurseries is of particular concern because they are responsible for many plant diseases, with high environmental, economic and social impacts. This paper offers a brief overview of the current status of Phytophthora species in European plant nurseries. Focus was placed on Italian sites. Despite the increasing awareness of the risk of Phytophthora spread and the management strategies applied for controlling it, the complexity of the Phytophthora community in the horticulture industry is increasing over time. Since the survey carried out by Jung et al. (2016), new Phytophthora taxa and Phytophthora-host associations were identified. Phytophthorahydropathica, P. crassamura, P. pseudocryptogea and P. meadii were reported for the first time in European plant nurseries, while P. pistaciae, P. mediterranea and P. heterospora were isolated from Italian ornamental nurseries. Knowledge of Phytophthora diversity in plant nurseries and the potential damage caused by them will help to contribute to the development of early detection methods and sustainable management strategies to control Phytophthora spread in the future.

The preservation of agricultural biodiversity and socioeconomic development are relevant both to enhance domestic production and to support innovation. In the search for new biomolecules, we have focused on the “Carciofo Ortano” landrace, growth in the northern part of the Lazio region. Artichoke cultivation generates substantial by-products, including leaves, stems, and roots, which could serve as valuable sources of biomolecules and prebiotic dietary fiber. To valorize the leaf waste of the “Carciofo Ortano” landrace, a multidisciplinary approach was applied. Chemical analysis using HPLC-DAD identified mono-O- and di-O-caffeoylquinic acids and the sesquiterpene cynaropicrin in all artichoke leaf extracts. SPME-GC/MS analyses detected aliphatic alcohols in the fresh leaf samples. Antiproliferative and cytotoxic studies on cancer (SH-SY5Y, MCF-7, MDA) and normal (MCF-10A) human cell lines revealed that leaf extracts induced a selective dose and time-dependent biological effect. While showing slight activity against environmental bacterial strains, artichoke leaf extracts exhibited significant antifungal activity against the phytopathogenic fungus Alternaria alternata. Overall, the results highlight the potential of “Carciofo Ortano” cultivation by-products as a rich source of biomolecules with versatile applications in humans, animals, and the environment.

Enhancing plant resilience is crucial for sustainable agriculture and ecosystem health in an era of climate change and the global spread of plant pathogens. The strategic exploitation of diverse ecological niches to isolate microorganisms that promote plant growth, suppress pathogens and tolerate abiotic stress conditions is paramount. Here, 21 bacterial strains were isolated from three distinct sources: digestate produced from straw feedstock, Quercus ilex roots mycorrhised with Tuber aestivum, and a peperino stone fountain. These isolates were assigned to eight genera, Bacillus , Pseudomonas , Stenotrophomonas , Burkholderia , Acinetobacter , Aeromonas , Exiguobacterium and Sphingobacterium , all linked to plant growth promotion, stress mitigation and pathogen control. Tests for plant‐growth‐promoting and biocontrol activities included indole acetic acid, siderophores, hydrogen cyanide, cellulase and chitinase and phosphate/potassium solubilisation. Efficacy against Phytophthora infestans and tolerance to salinity, pH and drought were also assessed. Functional patterns varied by isolation source, suggesting niche‐specific adaptation. Although all isolates displayed metabolic versatility, peperino stone strains exhibited higher tolerance to acidity and drought, while isolates from straw digestate and mycorrhizal roots tolerated alkalinity. Most isolates are promising for P. infestans control. These findings highlight the importance of targeted microbial sourcing in developing effective biofertilisers and biopesticides, offering sustainable solutions to agricultural and environmental challenges.

Canker and dieback diseases caused by fungal pathogens represent an increasing threat to woody plants in both urban and forest environments, where sustainable management options are urgently needed. In this study, the biocontrol potential of Bacillus strain N1 was investigated against Neofusicoccum parvum and Gnomoniopsis smithogilvyi, causal agents of canker diseases on Eucalyptus globulus and Castanea sativa, respectively. The whole-genome sequence confirmed the taxonomic identification of strain N1 as B. velezensis, showing high average nucleotide identity and digital DNA–DNA hybridization values with reference strains. AntiSMASH analysis revealed the presence of multiple biosynthetic gene clusters associated with the production of antimicrobial secondary metabolites, including polyketides, non-ribosomal peptides, and lipopeptides, reflecting strain N1’s genomic potential to produce compounds that may contribute to its antifungal activity. Moreover, B. velezensis strain N1 significantly inhibited the growth of N. parvum and G. smithogilvyi and showed a biocontrol efficacy on detached eucalyptus and chestnut shoots. In both preventive and curative treatments and pathosystems, the application of B. velezensis N1 resulted in a significant reduction in the length of necrotic lesions, compared to pathogen-only controls, while no phytotoxic effects were observed on treated shoots. Overall, this study supported B. velezensis N1 as a promising candidate for the sustainable control of canker-associated pathogens in woody plants.

Historic mural paintings are particularly vulnerable to biodeterioration caused by microbial colonization, which can lead to the degradation of the organic and inorganic components of wall surfaces. This study presents, to the best of our knowledge, the first identification of the Paracoccus marcusii IBR3 strain on a 19th‐century mural painting from a private Italian villa. In vitro analyses revealed that strain IBR3 exhibits significant enzymatic activities, such as casein hydrolysis and calcium carbonate dissolution. These activities implicate the strain in the degradation of proteinaceous binders and mineral substrates, which are typical of mural artwork. As part of an environmentally sustainable conservation strategy, the antimicrobial activity of Thymus serpyllum essential oil was evaluated against strain IBR3 using in vitro tests, membrane integrity assays, and ATR‐FTIR spectroscopy. The essential oil, chemically characterized by GC–MS, demonstrated promising biocidal efficacy. These findings suggest that T. serpyllum essential oil could serve as a non‐toxic alternative for preserving and maintaining culturally significant wall paintings.