Search Results (165)

Fusarium proliferatum is a fungal pathogen with an exceptionally broad host range, infecting ornamental plants and forest trees such as Populus and Cedrus deodara, and causing heart rot, root rot, and other diseases that lead to severe yield losses. It can also produce mycotoxins, including fumonisins, which threaten human and animal health. Conventional detection relies on isolation, culture, and morphological identification, which are time-consuming and prone to misidentification. Here, we established a rapid, visual molecular detection method by combining recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) with the CRISPR/Cas12a system, targeting the F. proliferatum-specific gene Fpro_15953. The assay exhibited high specificity: the F. proliferatum isolate from C. deodara tested positive, while 37 non-target isolates (10 other Fusarium species, 10 other fungi, 15 oomycetes, and 2 Bursaphelenchus nematodes) produced no detectable signal. Under isothermal conditions at 37 °C, after 10 min of RPA followed by 10 min of Cas12a cleavage, as little as 0.001 ng·μL⁻¹ of F. proliferatum genomic DNA could be detected. The method further succeeded in detecting F. proliferatum in artificially inoculated C. deodara needles and Populus × hopeiensis stem and root segments. This RPA-CRISPR/Cas12a platform provides an efficient, accurate tool for F. proliferatum detection and supports rapid field diagnosis. Full article

Fusarium wilt of Phalaenopsis spp., caused by Fusarium species, is a major soil-borne disease that severely threatens the yield and ornamental quality of Phalaenopsis. Endophytic fungi can serve as natural biocontrol agents against soil-borne pathogens and have potential applications in biological control. In this study, a pathogenic isolate, HT-1, was obtained from Fusarium-wilted Phalaenopsis plants, and its pathogenicity was confirmed through inoculation assays on detached leaves and intact plants. Morphological observations, together with internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and translation elongation factor 1-α (TEF-1α) sequence analyses, identified HT-1 as Fusarium proliferatum. Seven endophytic fungi with strong antagonism against F. proliferatum were screened using a dual-culture assay. All seven isolates consistently inhibited five representative plant pathogens in vitro, showing broad-spectrum and promising biocontrol potential. Detached leaf inoculation assays showed that both Trichoderma virens and Trichoderma asperellum significantly reduced lesion area and disease severity caused by F. proliferatum, indicating potential application in disease management. In summary, this study identified seven endophytic fungi from Phalaenopsis with broad-spectrum antagonistic potential against multiple plant pathogenic fungi. Meanwhile, the protective effects of T. virens and T. asperellum against F. proliferatum were preliminarily evaluated using detached leaves. These findings provide theoretical reference and fungal resources for screening candidate biocontrol strains against Phalaenopsis Fusarium wilt and related plant diseases, and lay a foundation for future studies on biocontrol mechanisms, whole-plant efficacy verification, and practical application. Full article

The increasing demand for sustainable crop protection strategies has intensified interest in plant-beneficial bacteria as alternatives to synthetic agrochemicals. In this study, the soil-derived bacterium Pseudomonas putida V01 was isolated and characterized for its antifungal and plant growth-promoting potential through an integrated approach combining biological assays, untargeted metabolomics, and in vivo plant experiments. Cell-free culture filtrates exhibited strong antifungal activity against major phytopathogenic fungi, completely inhibiting the growth of Sclerotium rolfsii and significantly reducing mycelial development of Alternaria alternata and Fusarium proliferatum by 40% and 20%, respectively. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) selectively inhibited Botrytis cinerea and A. alternata by 28% and 10%, respectively, and affected sporulation of F. proliferatum. Metabolomic profiling through LC-qTOF-MS and GC-MS analyses revealed a chemically diverse metabolome, including putatively annotated diketopiperazines, cyclic peptides, phenolic compounds, and fatty acids. VOC profiling indicated ketones and alcohols as the predominant volatile classes, with 2-undecanone and 2-undecanol among the most abundant compounds detected. In vivo assays on wheat seedlings showed significant increases in shoot growth, biomass accumulation, and chlorophyll content compared with untreated controls. These findings indicate that P. putida V01 combines complementary antifungal and plant growth-promoting activities associated with a diverse repertoire of diffusible and volatile metabolites. The integrated biological and metabolomic characterization highlights its potential as a multifunctional microbial inoculant for sustainable crop production and disease management. Full article

Rice bakanae disease (RBD) occurs at all growth stages of rice, leading to yield loss and rice seed contamination. We sampled plants with bakanae symptoms and aerial adventitious roots from early-season rice fields, and obtained a total of 152 Fusarium isolates. Based on a combination of sequences from a region of the tef1 gene and morphological features, Fusarium isolates were identified as F. fujikuroi (142 isolates, 93.4%), F. proliferatum (8 isolates, 5.3%), and F. oxysporum (2 isolates, 1.3%). We found that 30 °C was suitable for the sporulation of all three Fusarium species. However, for mycelial growth, the temperature suitable for F. oxysporum was higher than that for F. fujikuroi and F. proliferatum. On a susceptible rice, F. fujikuroi caused foolish seedlings (excessive growth rate ranging from 29.87% to 116.57%); F. proliferatum and F. oxysporum led to stunted symptoms. Quantification of gibberellic acid (GA₃) by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) revealed that only F. fujikuroi isolates produced large amounts of GA₃, explaining why only F. fujikuroi isolates caused bakanae symptoms. The infected rice seedlings were continuously cultivated in the greenhouse. All three Fusarium species caused crown rot in rice plants. Additionally, F. fujikuroi caused root rot and grain sterility, whereas F. proliferatum and F. oxysporum caused heading failure. Collectively, our study indicated that three Fusarium species were associated with RBD in early-season rice in Zhejiang, China, and they caused distinct symptoms in rice. Full article

Root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita) is a significant challenge in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) production under protected cultivation systems. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of four microbial biocontrol agents (Trichoderma asperellum, Beauveria bassiana, Fusarium proliferatum, and Bacillus mojavensis) on cucumber growth and root gall formation. Two greenhouse experiments (spring and summer 2023) were conducted using potted plants inoculated with 100 g of nematode-infected soil. All treatments improved seed germination compared with the untreated control, particularly B. mojavensis and T. asperellum. During vegetative growth, F. proliferatum and B. mojavensis produced higher biomass in the spring experiment, while T. asperellum enhanced root development. Treatment with T. asperellum reduced root galling by 45% in the spring and 31% in the summer experiment, although these differences were not statistically significant. In the chemotaxis assay, the different microbial biocontrol agents showed variation in the chemotaxis index (CI), ranging from 0 to 0.12 among treatments. Overall, microbial treatments mainly enhanced plant growth under nematode stress, while effects on root galling were limited. Full article

The floodplains of the Paraná and Paraguay rivers form the Chaco wetland, one of the most species-rich plant ecosystems in Argentina. Because wild grasses can serve as reservoirs of fungal species that cause disease and mycotoxin contamination of cereal crops, we examined asymptomatic, wild grasses from the Chaco wetlands for the presence of the genus Fusarium, which includes multiple species that cause agriculturally important diseases and/or mycotoxin contamination of crops. We focused our efforts on the identification and characterization of the multispecies lineage known as the Fusarium fujikuroi species complex (FFSC). Using morphological traits and partial DNA sequences of the TEF1 gene, we determined that 58 isolates recovered from the grasses were members of FFSC. Fifty of the isolates were identified as one of six FFSC species, including the economically important plant pathogenic species F. proliferatum, F. subglutinans, and F. verticillioides. To our knowledge, two of the species, F. anthophilum and F. pseudocircinatum, have not been reported previously in Argentina. Our analyses also indicated that eight of the FFSC isolates were a novel species, herein described as Fusarium varsavskyanum. A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay and genome sequence data indicate that each isolate of F. varsavskyanum isolate had only one mating type idiomorph (MAT1-1 or MAT1-2), which suggests that the fungus is heterothallic. Genome sequence analysis indicated that F. varsavskyanum has the genetic potential to produce, (i) the emerging mycotoxins fusaric acid and beauvericin (or enniatins); (ii) the pigments bikaverin, carotenoids, and fusarubin; and (iii) the plant hormones auxins, cytokinins, and gibberellins. Thus, asymptomatic grasses from the Chaco wetland can harbor Fusarium species that in some agroecosystems can cause economically important diseases and/or mycotoxin contamination of crops. It remains to be determined whether the genotypes of Fusarium species that occur on the wetland grasses, including F. varsavskyanum genotypes, can negatively impact agriculture. Full article

Mucormycosis is a devastating invasive fungal infection primarily caused by Mucor and Rhizopus species, presenting significant clinical challenges due to limited therapeutic options and emerging drug resistance in opportunistic yeasts such as Candida albicans. This study explores foliar endophytic fungi from Thai medicinal plants as potential reservoirs for novel bioactive metabolites targeting both fungal growth and virulence factors. We report the first isolation of Fusarium proliferatum as an endophyte from Lantana camara L. foliage (voucher number 01562), with its identity confirmed through morphological characterization and sequencing of the fungal ITS4/ITS5 regions. Antifungal susceptibility testing showed potent activity against a panel of environmental Mucorales, with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) ranging from 0.3 to 1 mg/L. In dual-culture assays, F. proliferatum demonstrated significant mycelial inhibition rates of 93.30% to 93.67% against Mucor spp. and 88.67% to 93.67% against Rhizopus spp. Furthermore, the crude extract exhibited a potent anti-virulence effect by suppressing the C. albicans yeast-to-hyphal transition, achieving up to 68% germination inhibition in resistant strains. Liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis identified 51 secondary metabolites, including the cyclic peptide beauvericin and various polyketides and indole derivatives. These findings suggest that F. proliferatum utilizes metabolic mimicry and adaptive synergy with its host plant to produce a diverse chemical arsenal. This study positions foliar endophytes of L. camara as promising candidates for the development of dual-action therapeutics to combat invasive and resistant mycoses. Full article

Fusarium spp. are active producers of mycotoxins that enter the food chain and pose risks to human health. Identifying pathogenic agents is a key step in developing disease management strategies. For the first time in Bulgaria, we identified eight Fusarium species in wheat, harvest 2024–2025, through the application of DNA barcoding. For a genetic marker and construction of phylogenetic tree, the protein-coding gene β-tub was chosen. Among 26 identified isolates, F. sporotrichioides (42.3%) dominated, followed by F. proliferatum (23.1%), F. avenaceum (7.7%), F. armeniacum (7.7%), and F. poae (7.7%). F. tricinctum (3.8%), F. oxysporum (3.8%), and F. equiaseti (3.9%) were weakly expressed. Phylogenetic analysis classified the isolates into five species complexes: FSAMSC, FFSC, FTSC, FIESC, and FOSC and highlighted the genetic distances between them. Molecular genetic analysis showed that 84.6% of the wheat samples contained only one species of Fusarium, and in 15.4% the co-presence of two species was established. The largest share was in samples with a low infestation of 2–4%, which represented 35% (n = 32) of all positives. No statistically significant difference was found between varieties and contamination level, but a statistically significant positive correlation was demonstrated by the preceding crop (rapeseed, sunflower, and maize). Full article

Seed-associated endophytes become active during germination, playing important roles as early colonizers of plant tissues and contributing to plant health while residing in a protective niche. In this study, we characterized a wheat-derived bacterial isolate, JunSE1L, to determine its functional traits and ecological role in the plant microbiome. The isolate was identified as Bacillus atrophaeus based on 16S rRNA analysis. JunSE1L exhibited nutrient-dependent plasticity in colony architecture, forming robust hydrophobic biofilms and pellicles under rich nutrient availability while swarming and forming thin, often dendritic colonies under defined nutrition. JunSE1L produced highly surface-active compounds that lowered the surface tension of water to 30 mN/m and released potent proteolytic and hemolytic compounds, thus equipping JunSE1L for antagonistic interactions, as examined against several fungal pathogens. JunSE1L inhibited Fusarium proliferatum and Mucor hiemalis in live-cell assays, while cell-free supernatant selectively inhibited M. hiemalis. JunSE1L was recovered from multiple plant compartments, including rhizosphere, rhizoplane, and aerial tissues, and was observed to emerge from cut plant tissues, supporting seed-endophyte mobilization upon germination to colonize distal tissues. Seed surface inoculation experiments with JunSE1L showed limited attachment at low cell densities and reduced seedling vigor at higher inoculum levels, indicating that inoculum density and native microbiome interactions influence seedling performance. Full article

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

Allium spp. (alliums) are susceptible to rot-diseases caused by pathogenic Fusarium spp., including F. proliferatum (FP) and F. oxysporum (FO), which can cause severe crop losses. A series of pathogenicity tests of four FP isolates from garlic (Allium sativum), four FO isolates from garlic and three FO isolates from onion (Allium cepa var. cepa) were conducted on garlic seedlings and cloves, onion seedlings and bulbs, and shallot (Allium cepa var. aggregatum) bulbs to determine the virulence of the isolates. A combination of PCRs and whole-genome sequencing (WGS), using ONT long-read technology, was used to identify genes encoding putative effectors. The FP isolates caused moderate to severe symptoms in garlic and contained homologues of SIX2, CRX1 and CRX2, and either SIX9 or SIX13. The FOC ex onion isolates caused severe disease symptoms in all allium species tested, while FO from garlic caused moderate to severe disease in garlic but only mild symptoms in onion and shallot. Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cepae ex onion potentially contained homologues of SIX3, SIX5, SIX7, SIX9, SIX10, SIX12, SIX14, C5, CRX1 and CRX2. The most pathogenic FO isolate to garlic was Fo_VPRI44630 ex garlic, which contained SIX9, SIX13, C5, CRX1 and CRX2. The difference in virulence and putative effector profiles suggests evidence of host-associated differentiation, and as such, the f. sp. or race designation between FO ex garlic and FO ex onion should be investigated further. This is an important finding for future research into best management practices and breeding for disease resistance to FO and FP in garlic. 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

Little is known about the fungal pathogens responsible for fig (Ficus carica L.) branch canker in the Kashi region of Xinjiang, China. Using a combination of morphological characterization and multilocus sequence analyses of ITS, TEF1-α, and RPB2, we identified fungal isolates obtained from cankered fig branches collected in commercial orchards in this region. The pathogenicity of representative isolates was evaluated by artificial inoculation of fig branches under natural field conditions. Two dominant fungal species, Fusarium proliferatum and Alternaria alternata, were consistently isolated from diseased tissues. In inoculation assays, both species induced typical branch canker lesions similar to those observed in the field. Lesions caused by F. proliferatum were generally larger than those induced by A. alternata. The original pathogens were successfully re-isolated from the inoculated branches, thereby fulfilling Koch’s postulates. This study represents the first report of F. proliferatum and A. alternata as causal agents of fig branch canker in Xinjiang and expands the known spectrum of pathogens associated with fig branch diseases. These findings provide a scientific basis for improved disease monitoring and the development of sustainable management strategies in local fig orchards. Full article

Background/Objectives: Antifungal resistance among filamentous fungi is an increasing global concern with significant implications for clinical management. Herein, we propose a study aiming to investigate in vitro susceptibility patterns and epidemiology of filamentous fungi in Southern Italy, focusing on MIC distributions and resistance trends. Methods: We reported susceptibility results from Aspergillus spp., Fusarium spp., and Scedosporium/Lomentospora spp. clinical isolates, which underwent azoles, echinocandins, and amphotericin B in vitro testing. Results: Aspergillus fumigatus was the most frequently isolated species, showing an alarming increase in reduced susceptibility to amphotericin B (9.1%). The highest MIC ranges for this antifungal drug emerged in the case of A. fumigatus (1–4 mg/L) and A. terreus (2–8 mg/L), while A. flavus (0.5–4 mg/L) and A. niger (0.25–4 mg/L) showed lower values. As regarding azoles, all the Aspergillus spp. strains exhibited variable MIC values, reporting a 0.06–16 mg/L MIC range for itraconazole, 0.125–1 mg/L for voriconazole, and 0.03–1 mg/L for posaconazole. Fusarium solani exhibited high MICs for azoles (8 mg/L) and amphotericin B (2–4 mg/L), while F. oxysporum and F. proliferatum showed lower MICs (0.25–2 mg/L for amphotericin B and a MIC range of 0.5–8 mg/L for posaconazole). Lomentospora prolificans and Scedosporium apiospermum demonstrated multidrug resistance across all tested antifungals, reporting MIC ranges of 4–8 mg/L for amphotericin B, 0.25–16 mg/L for posaconazole, 0.25–8 mg/L for voriconazole, and 0.125–8 for itraconazole. Conclusions: Our data highlight the critical emergence of reduced antifungal susceptibility among filamentous fungi in Southern Italy, underlining the importance of epidemiological surveillance, precise species identification, and optimized susceptibility testing in the case of mould etiology for invasive fungal infections. Full article

A complex of Fusarium species frequently infects maize, causing root, ear, and stem rot, yield losses, reduced seed quality, and mycotoxin accumulation. To quantify Fusarium species composition and mycotoxin contamination, we conducted a first nationwide monitoring in Swiss commercial grain maize over three years (2008–2010), followed by grain maize hybrid experiments across five sites (2011–2013). Samples were analysed for species incidence, fungal DNA, and the mycotoxins deoxynivalenol, zearalenone, and fumonisins. For each field, crop management data were collected. Fusarium graminearum, F. verticillioides, F. subglutinans, and F. proliferatum were predominant, and deoxynivalenol was the most frequent toxin, with 55% of the samples exceeding the European pig feed guidance value (0.9 mg kg⁻¹). Overall, fumonisin contamination was low: only 11% of samples were above the limit of detection. The year, the length of the growing period, and the timing of the harvest were the principal determinants of F. graminearum infection and deoxynivalenol/zearalenone accumulation, whereas other agronomic factors, including crop rotation, soil management, and maturity class, showed only limited or inconsistent effects. Results from this study provide evidence that farmers should avoid long growing periods and late harvests to reduce the risk of high deoxynivalenol/zearalenone content. The maize hybrid experiments confirmed the overriding influence of weather conditions on Fusarium species incidence and mycotoxin content, leading to high inter-annual variability. These results highlight the need for standardised, long-term field experiments to disentangle agronomic effects and environmental drivers. Full article