Molecular Pathogens, 2025, Vol.16, No.3, 87-99 http://microbescipublisher.com/index.php/mp 97 control technologies to improve their practicality and economy, so that farmers are willing to adopt them (Luo et al., 2024). For example, by screening local dominant antagonistic strains and developing cheap culture media, the cost of biocontrol agents can be reduced; promoting simple operating procedures for physical methods such as solar high-temperature disinfection, making it easier for farmers to master. 7.2 Suggestions for multidisciplinary joint research directions The occurrence mechanism and prevention and control strategies of sweet potato root rot involve knowledge in multiple disciplines such as plant pathology, microbiology, soil science, and molecular biology. Therefore, it is necessary to carry out in-depth research in the following directions through multidisciplinary cross-collaboration in the future: First, the crop-soil-microorganism interaction mechanism. Root rot is a system determined by the interaction between pathogens, hosts and soil environment. We need to integrate the methods of plant immunology and microbial ecology to analyze the immune dynamics of sweet potato roots in the soil microenvironment. Secondly, the mining of new disease-resistant resources and genes. Make full use of the gene pool of sweet potato and related wild species, find hidden disease-resistant genes through genome resequencing, association analysis and other methods, and use gene function research methods to clarify their mechanism of action. Similarly, some antifungal proteins discovered in recent years, such as pathogenesis-related proteins and phytoalexin synthase, are also worth introducing into sweet potatoes through transgenic or gene editing methods to test whether they confer new resistance. Third, in-depth study of pathogenic bacterial community succession and pathogenic mechanism. At present, our understanding of the complex infection pathogens of sweet potato root rot is still insufficient. For example, the differences in pathogenicity and host range of different Fusarium physiological races on sweet potatoes need to be clarified through genotyping and virulence determination of field strains. The conditions and mechanisms of pathogenicity of some secondary pathogens such as Lasiodiplodia and Trichoderma asperellum in specific environments also need to be clarified (Dania and Thomas, 2019). In addition, whether there is an interactive (synergistic or antagonistic) relationship between Fusarium and other saprophytic fungi during mixed infection is also a question worth exploring. In this regard, clues can be obtained through experiments such as co-culture of double bacteria and competitive colonization of labeled strains, and verified by field observations. Fourth, research and development of new technologies for agronomic and engineering prevention and control. For example, the application of Internet of Things technology in sweet potato storage monitoring can automatically control storage temperature and humidity and warn of mildew; another example is the development of efficient potato cleaning and wound protection equipment, which mechanizes post-harvest processing to reduce human damage and infection opportunities. In future research, there should be both theoretical exploration of mechanisms and focus on the implementation of practical technologies. Through the close integration of industry, academia and research, we have reason to believe that we can gradually overcome the stubborn disease of sweet potato root rot that restricts industrial development and promote sweet potato production towards high yield, green and sustainable directions. Acknowledgements We are grateful to Dr. W. Wang for his assistance with the serious reading and helpful discussions during the course of this work. Conflict of Interest Disclosure The authors confirm that the study was conducted without any commercial or financial relationships and could be interpreted as a potential conflict of interest. References Arie T., 2019, Fusarium diseases of cultivated plants: control diagnosis and molecular and genetic studies, Journal of Pesticide Science, 44(4): 275-281. https://doi.org/10.1584/jpestics.J19-03 Bilgili A., Bilgili A.V., Tenekeci M.E., and Karadağ K., 2023, Spectral characterization and classification of two different crown root rot and vascular wilt diseases (Fusarium oxysporum f.sp.radicis lycopersici and Fusarium solani) in tomato plants using different machine learning algorithms, European Journal of Plant Pathology, 165(2): 271-286. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10658-022-02605-8
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjQ4ODYzNA==