Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is one of the most widely grown crops in the world, and is a staple food for more than half of the global total population. Root-knot nematodes (RKNs), Meloidogyne spp., and especially M. graminicola, seem to be significant rice pests, which makes them the most economically important plant-parasitic nematode in this crop. RKNs develop a feeding site in galls by causing host cells to differentiate into hypertrophied, multinucleate, metabolically active cells known as giant cells. This grazing framework gives the nematode a constant food source, permitting it to develop into a fecund female and complete its life cycle inside the host root. M. graminicola effector proteins involved in nematode parasitism, including pioneer genes, were functionally characterized in earlier studies. Molecular modelling and docking studies were performed on Meloidogyne graminicola protein targets, such as β-1,4-endoglucanase, pectate lyase, phospholipase B-like protein, and G protein-coupled receptor kinase, to understand the binding affinity of Beta-D-Galacturonic Acid, 2,6,10,15,19,23-hexamethyltetracosane, (2S)-2-amino-3-phenylpropanoic acid, and 4-O-Beta-D-Galactopyranosyl-Alpha-D-Glucopyranose against ligand molecules of rice. This study discovered important molecular aspects of plant–nematode interaction and candidate effector proteins that were regulated by M. graminicola-infected rice plants. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to describe M. graminicola’s molecular adaptation to host parasitism.

Pot culture experiments were conducted under glasshouse conditions to evaluate the biocontrol efficacy of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi viz., Acaulospora levis, Gigaspora margarita, Glomus mosseae, G. macrocarpum and Rhizophagus intraradices @ 15 g plant⁻¹ and compared with carbofuran 3G and an untreated control. Among these, application of R. intraradices @ 15 g plant⁻¹ was found to be effective, which enhanced the plant growth parameters by 62.3%, 47.6%, 45.3%, 56.0%, 46.2% of shoot length, shoot weight, root length, root weight and fruit weight, respectively along with 64.3% of AM colonization, increased spore load (169.3/100cc soil) and 0.55% of total phosphorus content. Soil population of M. incognita was also found to be significantly reduced by 49.4% with gall index (2.5). The effect was followed by G. mosseae, G. macrocarpum and G. margarita. However, A. levis showed the least effective against M. incognita and it was at par with carbofuran 3G application.

Avocado (Persea americana Mill.) is a globally important fruit crop that is vulnerable to various biotic and abiotic stresses prevalent in subtropical regions, significantly affecting productivity. Rootstocks play a crucial role in mitigating stress factors and ensuring sustainable avocado cultivation. This review discusses the propagation methods for avocado rootstocks, including seed and clonal propagation techniques and examines the responses of different rootstocks to abiotic stresses such as salinity, poorly aerated soils, calcareous, alkaline soils and drought. It highlights the physiological, biochemical and molecular mechanisms involved in these stress responses. This review also covers resistance of various rootstocks against biotic stresses, including Laurel wilt (Harringtonia lauricola), root rot (Phytophthora cinnamomi), white root rot (Rosellina necatrix) and Verticillium wilt (Verticillium dahliae). Extensive research has identified promising rootstocks such as R0.05, Dusa, PP40 and R0.18 for salinity tolerance; West Indian rootstocks for tolerance to calcareous soils and rootstocks such as Duke 7, Toro Canyon and BG-83 for resistance against various other diseases. Understanding defense mechanisms such as callose deposition, lignification and pathogenesis-related protein production, will aid in developing molecular markers and screening techniques for tolerant rootstock selection. These specialized avocado rootstocks offer specific tolerance, making them ideal for diverse growing conditions. Enhancing stress resistance leads to more productive trees, which significantly boost the sustainability and profitability of commercial avocado cultivation.