Search Results (35)

To determine Fusarium species and their pathogenicity in maize-production areas of the Tepebaşı, Odunpazarı, Alpu, and Seyitgazi districts of Eskişehir province, Türkiye, 180 samples were collected from 45 fields during survey studies conducted in 2023–2024. A total of 110 Fusarium isolates were obtained from the collected plant samples. The isolates were identified as F. verticillioides, F. culmorum, F. proliferatum, F. graminearum, F. sambucinum, F. acuminatum, F. chlamydosporum, and F. equiseti. The most common species was F. verticillioides, while the most virulent species was F. graminearum, with a disease severity of 96.67%. The effects of different doses of soil-applied herbicides containing the active ingredients Isoxaflutole + Thiencarbazone-methyl + Cyprosulfamide, Dimethenamid-P + Saflufenacil, and S-Metolachlor + Terbuthylazine on F. graminearum were evaluated under both in vitro and in vivo conditions. Under in vitro conditions, the highest inhibition rate (57.23%) was observed in the double-dose application of the herbicide containing S-Metolachlor + Terbuthylazine. This was followed by the upper and recommended doses of the same herbicide with inhibition rates of 47.16% and 39.46%, respectively. For the other herbicides, inhibition rates increased with increasing herbicide dose. In field trials, the highest suppression of the pathogen was also observed with the herbicide containing S-Metolachlor + Terbuthylazine. While the recommended dose showed a 38.6% effect against the pathogen, the upper dose resulted in a 45.31% effect. This study suggests that herbicide applications may be associated with improved plant growth, likely due to reduced pathogen pressure and decreased weed competition. The findings highlight the complex interactions between soil-applied herbicides, soil-borne pathogens, and host plants, and provide insights into the development of integrated disease management strategies in maize-production systems. Full article

White mold disease (WMD) is a major constraint to Morchella cultivation in China, leading to significant yield and quality losses. While Fusarium species are recognized plant pathogens, their diversity and role in WMD of morels have been poorly understood. This study aimed to identify and characterize Fusarium species associated with WMD in cultivated morels. Symptomatic ascocarps were collected from 22 cultivation bases across 16 provinces in China. A total of 120 Fusarium isolates were recovered and identified using morphological traits and multi-locus phylogenetic analysis. Twelve Fusarium species were identified, F. acuminatum, F. avenaceum, F. clavum, F. compactum, F. falciforme, F. flocciferum, F. ipomoeae, F. mucidum, F. oxysporum, F. proliferatum, F. subglutinans, and F. verticillioides, with most isolates recovered from northern China. Among them, F. verticillioides was the most common species (22.5%). Pathogenicity assays showed that all twelve of the identified Fusarium species were virulent to morel ascocarps. This is the first comprehensive report of these twelve Fusarium species causing WMD in morels, providing critical insights into pathogen diversity and virulence in Morchella production systems. These findings will support the development of targeted monitoring and management strategies to reduce the impact of WMD in morel cultivation. Full article

Interest in the cultivation of rockrose (Cistus ladanifer L.) is focused not only on its commercial products but also on its role in maintaining ecosystems. Very few pests and diseases are known to affect it. However, in cultivated plots in mainland Spain, a high number of plants with symptoms of decline and death were observed. This damage occurred after a period of rain of 21 days in late spring, in tilled soil, and with plants grown from cuttings. Laboratory analysis revealed the presence of the phytopathogenic fungal species Macrophomina phaseolina, Fusarium acuminatum, F. equiseti, and F. tricinctum, which were identified by ITS sequencing. These fungi, along with the agronomic and edaphic–climatic conditions, suggest an association of factors involved in the damage observed in the rockroses, pointing out the need to develop an integrated management strategy for this type of agroecosystem. Full article

Cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (CYPs/P450s) play a key role in organisms’ primary and secondary metabolism in species across all domains of life. Accurate annotation of P450 genes is crucial for identifying their functions, evolution, and, consequently, their biotechnological potential. In this study, we report the identification of an unprecedented one-nucleotide exon required for the correct assembly of CYP621A P450 genes from multiple Fusarium species. Through comparative genomic analysis of 20 orthologous CYP621A genes, supported by an intronless CYP621B1 gene from Aspergillus clavatus, we demonstrate that omission of this single-nucleotide exon disrupts exon phase compatibility and prevents reconstruction of a full-length, functional P450 protein. The micro-exon encodes the central nucleotide of the glycine codon in the highly conserved PKG motif, which is essential for maintaining the structural integrity between the EXXR and PERF motifs, a characteristic of P450 enzymes. Importantly, transcriptomic evidence from sequence read archive (SRA) data confirms accurate splicing of this one-nucleotide exon in Fusarium solani and F. acuminatum under multiple growth conditions. This work presents the second example of the smallest exon reported to date for a gene, and the first for a P450 gene or a fungal gene. The study’s findings have broad implications for genome annotation pipelines, underscoring the need for careful manual curation and improved algorithms to detect ultra-small exons in functionally constrained regions of eukaryotic genes. Full article

Lycium barbarum L. is an important economic crop in Qinghai province, China. However, root rot seriously reduces the economic results of L. barbarum. Here, we collected the diseased L. barbarum roots from Nuomuhong Farm of Haixi Mongolian and Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province, China, to clarify the diversity, pathogenicity, and biological characteristics of its root rot pathogens. A total of 125 isolates were collected, and based on morphological characteristics and rDNA ITS, TEF-1α, and RPB2 genes sequence analysis, they were identified as Fusarium equiseti, F. avenaceum, F. solani, F. citri, F. acuminatum, F. culmorum, F. sambucinum, F. incarnatum, F. oxysporum, F. tricinctum, Microdochium bolleyi, and Clonostachys rosea. These fungi were used to inoculate the roots of 1-year-old L. barbarum seedlings using scratching and root-irrigation inoculation methods, and all isolates caused root rot. This is the first report that M. bolleyi, F. avenaceum, and F. citri caused root rot in L. barbarum. And the best media, the lethal temperatures, and the optimum carbon sources and nitrogen sources of the 12 pathogen species were determined in this study. Moreover, our findings provide a theoretical foundation for root rot management in the future. Full article

The herbicidal efficacy and crop safety of Fusarium acuminatum strain HL-29, an endophytic fungus isolated from infected Amaranthus retroflexus in Qinghai Province, were evaluated. In vitro leaf assays demonstrated its pathogenicity against four broadleaf weeds, with efficacy ranked as follows: Elsholtzia densa = Senecio vulgaris = Chenopodium album > Malva verticillata. Pot trials further confirmed that the HL-29 fermentate caused 100% disease incidence in S. vulgaris, C. album, and E. densa. Notably, the strain showed no pathogenicity toward seven major local crops, indicating excellent selectivity. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed key morphological changes during the infection process on C. album leaves. These results establish F. acuminatum HL-29 as a promising biocontrol candidate against broadleaf weeds in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, providing a theoretical foundation for developing alpine-adapted mycoherbicides. Full article

Wheat is a major staple crop in Xinjiang, China; however, comprehensive data on Fusarium mycotoxin contamination in wheat from this region remain limited. Despite recent observations of Fusarium head blight (FHB), few studies have characterized the mycotoxin profiles in wheat from Xinjiang, especially regarding emerging mycotoxins. This study aimed to systematically investigate the occurrence of both conventional and emerging mycotoxins in freshly harvested wheat from Xinjiang, to evaluate the effects of sampling year and geographical region on mycotoxin contamination levels, and to identify the Fusarium species responsible for mycotoxin production. A total of 151 freshly harvested wheat samples were collected from Southern and Northern Xinjiang in 2023 and 2024. Mycotoxins were quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS). Fusarium isolates were obtained and identified through the translation elongation factor 1-alpha (TEF-1α) gene sequencing. Genotyping was assessed by genotype-specific multiplex PCR, and mycotoxigenic potential was detected by rice culture assays. A high incidence (72.9%) of co-contamination with multiple mycotoxins was observed. Conventional mycotoxins such as deoxynivalenol (DON) and zearalenone (ZEN) were detected in 31.1% and 41.1% of samples. Notably, emerging mycotoxins, including enniatins (ENNs) and beauvericin (BEA), were present at significantly higher concentrations than those reported in some regions of China. Significant spatiotemporal variation was observed, with markedly higher contamination levels of emerging mycotoxins in 2024, particularly in Northern Xinjiang, where the symptoms of FHB epidemic occurred due to the humid climate and maize–wheat rotation system. Fusarium graminearum was identified as the primary producer of conventional mycotoxins, while F. acuminatum and F. avenaceum were mainly associated with emerging mycotoxins except BEA. This study provides the first comprehensive dataset on the co-occurrence of conventional and emerging Fusarium mycotoxins in wheat from Xinjiang and highlights significant spatiotemporal variations influenced by environmental factors. These findings underscore the necessity for continuous, region-specific monitoring and effective risk management strategies to address the evolving mycotoxin threat in Xinjiang’s wheat. Future research should focus on characterizing the populations of Fusarium toxin-producing fungi and the long-term impacts of mycotoxin exposure on food safety. Full article

Fusarium crown rot (FCR) is a devastating fungal disease of wheat in China that causes substantial yield losses and deterioration of grain quality. To clarify the pathogen composition and associated mycotoxin risks of FCR in Hebei Province, a comprehensive field survey was conducted during the critical growth stage from flowering to maturity (April to May) of the 2024 wheat season from 46 sites. Fungal isolates were obtained from symptomatic wheat stem bases and were identified through morphological and molecular analyses. In total, 156 Fusarium isolates were obtained, and from these isolates, 12 Fusarium species were identified based on species-specific PCR and DNA sequencing of the translation elongation factor 1-α (TEF1) loci. Of these Fusarium isolates, 118 were identified as Fusarium pseudograminearum, 16 identified as F. graminearum and the remaining isolates consisted of F. acuminatum, F. asiaticum, F. boothii, F. culmorum, F. equiseti, F. flocciferum, F. incarnatum, F. proliferatum, F. sinensis, and F. verticillioides. The results revealed that F. pseudograminearum with the 15ADON genotype was the predominant species, accounting for 75.64% of all the isolates, followed by F. graminearum. Trichothecene genotyping revealed that 91.53% of the F. pseudograminearum strains possessed the 15ADON genotype (108 isolates), while 8.47% exhibited the 3ADON genotype (10 isolates). Although differences were observed within F. pseudograminearum in MAT1-1 and MAT1-2 distributions among different sampling regions, a well-balanced mating type ratio was identified across Hebei Province. Population genetic analysis based on composite genotypes (trichothecene and mating type) revealed moderate to high genetic diversity within the F. pseudograminearum population. Recent studies on causal Fusarium species, trichothecene genotypes, and their distribution in China are compared and discussed. These findings may have implications in managing this significant fungal disease. Full article

In the present study, 70 representative strains of potato dry-rot pathogen fungi were collected and isolated from three potato-growing areas in Northern Shanxi Province to determine their distribution and composition. The aim was to determine their distribution and composition by investigating their genetic structure through morphological characterization and phylogenetic tree construction using three DNA fragments (TEF1, RPB1, and RPB2). The results showed that potato dry rot disease in Northern Shanxi Province, is caused by five pathogenic species: Fusarium sambucinum, F. solani, F.oxysporum, F. acuminatum, and F. dimerum, among which F. sambucinum is the dominant species, accounting for 87.14% of all the strains, and distributed primarily in various potato-growing areas in the region. This study is the first to show that F. dimerum is a component of the pathogenic complex causing potato dry rot and is distributed primarily in the basin and hilly regions with relative frequencies of 3.45% and 13.04%, respectively. Fusarium acuminatum is distributed only in the plateau regions with a relative frequency of 5.56%. Full article

Chinese pine, Pinus tabuliformis, is one of the most important garden plants in northern China, and the planting of this species is of great significance for the improvement of the ecological environment. In this study, different fungi were isolated and purified from diseased Pinus tabuliformis samples collected in Xi’an city, Shaanxi Province. Of these fungal isolates, only one (isolate AP-3) was pathogenic to the healthy host plant. The pathogenic isolate was identified as Fusarium acuminatum by morphological characteristics and ITS and TEF-1α sequence analyses. The optimal growth conditions for this isolate were further analyzed as follows: Optimal temperature of 25 °C, pH of 11, soluble starch and sodium nitrate as the most preferred carbon and nitrogen sources, respectively. By combining Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) long-read sequencing with Illumina short-read sequencing technologies, we obtained a 41.50 Mb genome assembly for AP-3, with 47.97% GC content and 3.04% repeats. This consisted of 14 contigs with an N50 of 4.64 Mb and a maximum length of 6.45 Mb. The BUSCO completeness of the genome assembly was 98.94% at the fungal level and 97.83% at the Ascomycota level. The genome assembly contained 13,408 protein-coding genes, including 421 carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZys), 120 cytochrome P450 enzymes (CYPs), 3185 pathogen-host interaction (PHI) genes, and 694 candidate secreted proteins. To our knowledge, this is the first report of F. acuminatum causing needle blight of P. tabuliformis. This study not only uncovered the pathogen responsible for needle blight of P. tabuliformis, but also provided a systematic analysis of its biological characteristics. These findings provide an important theoretical basis for disease control in P. tabuliformis and pave the way for further research into the fungal pathogenicity mechanisms and management strategies. Full article

Peanut Root Rot (PRR) is a devastating disease that significantly limits peanut production worldwide. Although PRR has been frequently reported in Henan Province of China, the predominant Fusarium species and their sensitivity to different fungicides remain unclear. Between 2021 and 2023, we surveyed 81 peanut fields across 17 cities in Henan Province, China, to assess PRR prevalence and Fusarium species distribution. A total of 1131 Fusarium isolates were identified based on the morphological characters and phylogenetic analyses and classified into 11 recognized Fusarium species: F. solani (56.06%), F. oxysporum (20.87%), F. neocosmosporiellum (13.62%), F. proliferatum (4.69%), F. acuminatum (1.33%), F. commune (1.15%), F. graminearum (1.06%), F. pseudograminearum (0.35%), F. ipomoeae (0.35%), F. lacertarum (0.26%), and F. armeniacum (0.26%). Pathogenicity assessments showed that all 11 Fusarium species were capable of causing PRR, with F. solani exhibiting the highest isolation frequency and widespread distribution in all areas. Furthermore, the four Fusarium species (F. solani, F. oxysporum, F. neocosmosporiellum, and F. proliferatum) were highly sensitive to the six fungicides, including prochloraz (EC₅₀ values of 0.02 ± 0.00~0.06 ± 0.01 mg/L), pydiflumetofen (EC₅₀ values of 0.31 ± 0.07~0.67 ± 0.06 mg/L), tetramycin (EC₅₀ values of 0.11 ± 0.02~0.58 ± 0.08 mg/L), tebuconazole (EC₅₀ values of 0.26 ± 0.07~0.65 ± 0.10 mg/L), prothioconazole (EC₅₀ values of 1.14 ± 0.16~3.15 ± 0.81 mg/L), and difenoconazole (EC₅₀ values of 0.62 ± 0.12~3.58 ± 0.76 mg/L). This comprehensive study is the first systematic documentation on the prevalence, virulence, and fungicide sensitivity of PRR pathogens in Henan Province. The findings of the current study will provide a theoretical basis for the effective management of peanut root rot in Henan, China. Full article

Fusarium acuminatum is a major pathogenic fungus causing root rot in alfalfa (Medicago sativa). DNA polymerase theta is known to play a crucial role in repairing DNA double-strand breaks. However, its biological function in F. acuminatum remains unknown. In this study, the POLQ gene was deleted by homologous recombination using Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation. Compared to the wild type (with the POLQ gene), the mutants (without the POLQ gene) showed significant phenotypic changes: they produced brown-yellow pigments instead of pink, slowed mycelial growth, and exhibited changes in macroconidia size and shape. The virulence of the mutants was greatly reduced, inducing only mild symptoms in alfalfa. In addition, FITC-WGA staining showed impaired spore germination and hyphal growth. These results suggest that POLQ is a key gene regulating growth and development of F. acuminatum, indicating that DNA repair may play an essential role in the pathogenicity of the pathogen in alfalfa. The POLQ gene could thus be a promising target for limiting F. acuminatum infections in alfalfa. Full article

Benthic diatoms are being used as indicators to assess the biological quality of surface waters in Kosovo. The Klina River is the left tributary of the White Drin River Basin, with a length of 69 km. The study assessed the level of surface water quality in the Klina River using 12 diatomic indices calculated with the Omnidia program. For this purpose, three stations monitored the river Klina in the autumn of 2021 to conform to international standards. A total of 88 diatom taxa were identified, with the dominant species being Rhoicosphenia abbreviata (C. Agardh) Lange-Bertalot, Gyrosigma acuminatum (Kützing) Rabenhorst, Cocconeis placenula Ehrenberg, Gomphonema minutum (Ag.) Agardh f. minutum, Gomphonema clavatum Ehr, Meridion circulare (Greville) C.A. Agardh, Cocconeis pediculus Ehrenberg, Diatoma vulgaris Bory, and Nitzschia dissipata (Kützing) Grunow ssp. dissipata etc. This study assessed the surface water quality in the Klina River using diatom indices, indicating that the river is in good to moderate ecological condition. Environmental variables such as hydrogen ion concentration (pH) and dissolved oxygen (DO) had significant positive correlations (<0.01) with the biological diatom index (IBD), Descy’s pollution metric (Descy), Sladeček’s pollution metric (SLA), the European index (CEE), and Watanabe’s Index (WAT), while the total suspended solids (TSS) also showed a strong negative significant correlation (<0.01) with the generic diatom index (IDG), Indice Diatomique Artois Picardie (IDAP), the eutrophication pollution index (EPI-D), the trophic diatom index (TDI), the Pampean diatom index (IDP), and Steinberg and Schiefele’s index (SHE). Total phosphorus (TP), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), and chemical oxygen demand (COD) presented a significant negative correlation (<0.05) with the IBD, Descy, SLA, CEE, and WAT indices. Our findings provide insights for organizations dealing with the state of the environment and water protection in Kosovo, and these results can be used as a starting point for assessing the ecological quality of water and monitoring environmental pollution in the Kosovo region. Full article

High-throughput sequencing (HTS) has revolutionized phytopathology by overcoming many limitations of traditional diagnostic methods, as it permits precise pathogen monitoring, identification, and control, with ribosomal DNA (rDNA) regions serving as reliable markers for fungal classification. In this study, next-generation sequencing (NGS) was used, targeting the ITS1 and ITS2 regions to explore fungal diversity and pathogen presence in winter wheat grain samples and identifying 183 OTU sequences across 115 taxa. The ITS1 analysis yielded 249,743 reads, with Fusarium sp. (61%) as the dominant pathogenic taxon, followed by Sporobolomyces sp. (14%), Cladosporium sp. (3%), and other yeast-like or saprotrophic fungi, such as Cryptoccocus spp., F. wieringae, and B. alba. Sequencing of ITS1 also permitted the detection of F. acuminatum and the quarantine-regulated pathogens T. caries and T. triticoides. The ITS2 analysis produced 179,675 reads, with F. culmorum (47%) as the most abundant taxon, confirming significant grain contamination with this pathogen. Other frequently detected taxa included yeast-like fungi such as C. tephrensis (21%) and V. victoriae (13%), along with saprotrophic species like S. roseus and Davidella sp. ITS2 provided better resolution for the identification of Fusarium species by the detection of more pathogenic taxa associated with cereal diseases, including F. culmorum, as well as F. cerealis, F. poae, and F. tricinctum. The analysis revealed a diverse fungal community, including other pathogens such as A. porri, B. cinerea, and C. herbarum, as well as various non-pathogenic and saprotrophic fungal taxa. These findings underscore the complementary utility of ITS1 and ITS2 in profiling fungal diversity and detecting critical pathogens using HTS, highlighting the potential of these DNA regions for monitoring and managing cereal crop health. Full article

The Fusarium species is an important plant pathogen that can cause plant diseases in grassland, leading to the degradation of grassland quality. However, the morphology of Fusarium is greatly affected by environmental factors, which makes it difficult to identify its species. In addition, the pathogenic ability of different Fusarium species in plants has not been fully studied. In this study, Fusarium isolates were obtained from grassland herbaceous plants via tissue separation. Through morphological means and based on ITS, RPB2, and TEF-1 gene sequences, we compared and constructed polygenic phylogenetic trees to classify and identify the Fusarium species. In addition, the pathogenicity of different Fusarium species was also analyzed. The results showed that a total of 24 Fusarium strains were successfully isolated from grassland, from which ten species were identified: F. flagelliforme, F. longifundum, F. clavum, F. scirpi, F. ipomoeae, F. oxysporum, etc. and were included in four complexes: Fusarium incarnatum-equiseti species complex (FIESC), Fusarium oxysporum species complex (FOSC), Fusarium tricinctum species complex (FTSC), and Fusarium sambucinum species complex (FSAMSC). Pathogenicity tests demonstrated that except for F. ipomoeae QJ5211, F. sambucinum QJ203, and F. acuminatum QJ1662, other Fusarium species had different degrees of pathogenic ability. This is the first study that discusses the effect of Fusarium on grassland disease control in this area. This study further provides clear pathogen information for the prevention and control of grassland diseases. Full article