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Microorganisms
Special Issues
Plant–Fungal Interactions in Biocontrol of Plant Diseases
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Plant–Fungal Interactions in Biocontrol of Plant Diseases

A special issue of Microorganisms (ISSN 2076-2607). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant Microbe Interactions".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 August 2025 | Viewed by 1157

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Tong Liu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Key Laboratory of Green Prevention and Control of Tropical Diseases and Pests, Ministry of Education, School of Tropical Agriculture and Forestry, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
Interests: plants; plant–microbe; biocontrol fungi; soil-borne pathogens; fungal metabolites; rhizosphere microbiome; mycoparasitism; endophytic fungi; sustainable disease management

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Fungi, as natural inhabitants of diverse ecosystems, play a crucial role in plant health by forming beneficial interactions with plants and other microorganisms. Many fungal species exhibit biocontrol potential against phytopathogens through various mechanisms, such as mycoparasitism, antibiosis, competition for resources, and the induction of plant defense responses. Beneficial fungal genera such as Trichoderma, Beauveria, Metarhizium, Clonostachys, and mycorrhizal fungi have been extensively studied for their ability to suppress plant diseases while promoting plant growth and resilience to abiotic stresses. Endophytic fungi establish mutualistic relationships within plant tissues, offering protection against pathogens by producing bioactive secondary metabolites and triggering induced systemic resistance (ISR). Similarly, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and other symbiotic fungi enhance nutrient uptake, modulate plant immune responses, and improve soil health, thereby contributing to a holistic biocontrol strategy. Advances in molecular biology, genomics, and microbiome research have further unraveled the intricate plant–fungal–pathogen interactions, paving the way for innovative applications in biocontrol and sustainable agriculture. This Special Issue aims to explore the diverse roles of fungi in biocontrol and their interaction mechanisms in plants for mitigating plant diseases. We invite original research articles, reviews, and perspectives on plant–fungal interactions contributing to sustainable disease management.

Prof. Dr. Tong Liu
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Microorganisms is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

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Keywords

  • biocontrol fungi
  • plant–microbe interactions
  • endophytic fungi
  • mycoparasitism
  • induced systemic resistance (ISR)
  • rhizosphere microbiome
  • secondary metabolites
  • sustainable plant disease management

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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20 pages, 11062 KiB  
Article
The Effect of the swnR Gene on Swainsonine Biosynthesis in Alternaria oxytropis OW7.8, an Endophytic Fungus of Oxytropis glabra
by Ning Ding, Chang Liu, Ping Lu, Lu Bai and Bo Yuan
Microorganisms 2025, 13(6), 1326; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13061326 - 6 Jun 2025
Viewed by 413
Abstract
The swnR gene was cloned in the endophytic fungus Alternaria oxytropis OW 7.8 isolated from Oxytropis glabra, and the gene knockout mutant ΔswnR was first constructed in this study. Compared with A. oxytropis OW 7.8, the ΔswnR exhibited distinct morphological [...] Read more.
The swnR gene was cloned in the endophytic fungus Alternaria oxytropis OW 7.8 isolated from Oxytropis glabra, and the gene knockout mutant ΔswnR was first constructed in this study. Compared with A. oxytropis OW 7.8, the ΔswnR exhibited distinct morphological alterations in both colony and mycelial structure, a slower growth rate, and significant reductions in swainsonine (SW) levels, indicating that the function of the swnR gene promoted SW biosynthesis. Six differentially expressed genes (DEGs) closely associated with SW synthesis were identified by transcriptomic analysis of A. oxytropis OW 7.8 and ΔswnR, with P5CR, swnR, swnK, swnH2, and swnH1 downregulating, and sac upregulating. The expression levels of the six genes were consistent with the transcriptomic analysis results. Five differential metabolites (DEMs) closely associated with SW synthesis were identified by metabolomic analysis, with L-Lys, L-Glutamic acid, Saccharopine, and L-Proline upregulating, and L-PA downregulating. The results lay the foundation for the in-depth elucidation of molecular mechanisms and SW synthesis pathways in fungi, and are also of importance for the prevention of locoism in livestock, the control and utilization of locoweeds, and the protection and sustainable development of grassland ecosystems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant–Fungal Interactions in Biocontrol of Plant Diseases)
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Review

Jump to: Research

18 pages, 7292 KiB  
Review
Molecular Tactics of Biocontrol Fungi to Hack Plant Immunity for Successful Host Colonization—A Focus on Trichoderma Fungi
by Yingfen Yang, Meiwei Zhao, Guotao Li, Ying Wang, Qingqing Shen, Jun Yang, Tahani A. Y. Asseri, Yanjun Wang, Min Guo and Waqar Ahmed
Microorganisms 2025, 13(6), 1251; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13061251 - 28 May 2025
Viewed by 562
Abstract
To play a role effectively, biocontrol fungi must fight against plant immune response and establish a symbiotic interaction with their host. After successfully colonizing the host plant, the biocontrol fungi may deliver beneficial effects related to plant health and resistance against phytopathogens. These [...] Read more.
To play a role effectively, biocontrol fungi must fight against plant immune response and establish a symbiotic interaction with their host. After successfully colonizing the host plant, the biocontrol fungi may deliver beneficial effects related to plant health and resistance against phytopathogens. These fungi use a variety of tactics to bypass the host immune response, including the production of effector proteins, miRNA interference, manipulation of host defense mechanisms, and others. In this review article, we discussed these strategies of biocontrol fungi based on recent findings. These methods enable the fungi to escape the plant’s intrinsic immunity and finely adjust the plant’s defense signaling cascades. Additionally, we discussed the importance of the physical barrier in the form of host cell walls and elucidated how biocontrol fungi use a combination of mechanical and enzymatic tactics to overcome this obstacle. Given the evolving comprehensions from molecular biology, genomics, and ecology, this review article highlights the prospective for a holistic, interdisciplinary approach to improve our understanding of the biocontrol mechanism. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant–Fungal Interactions in Biocontrol of Plant Diseases)
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