Search Results (146)

The present study demonstrates encapsulation of Coriandrum sativum essential oil in chitosan nanoemulsion and its effectiveness against fungal infestation and fumonisin B₁ (FB₁)- and B₂ (FB₂)-mediated biodeterioration of stored rice samples. Mycoflora analysis of different rice varieties revealed fungal occurrence and Fusarium proliferatum-BRC-R2 as the most toxigenic strain with highest FB₁- and FB₂-producing potentiality. GC-MS analysis of Coriandrum sativum essential oil (CEO) revealed linalool as the major component. The CEO-loaded chitosan nanoemulsion (Ne-CEO) was characterized by Scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffractometry, Dynamic light scattering, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The Ne-CEO showed better antifungal and anti-fumonisin effectiveness as compared to unencapsulated CEO. The antifungal mechanism was associated with reduced ergosterol content, efflux of ions, proteins, nucleic acids, and destruction of plasma membrane integrity. The in silico interaction of linalool with Fum 1 protein confirmed the molecular action of anti-fumonisin activity. Additionally, the Ne-CEO displayed improved antioxidant activity and promising antifungal and anti-fumonisin activity during in situ investigation in rice samples (Gobindobhog variety) along with inhibition of the deterioration of carbohydrate, protein content, and lipid peroxidation without altering organoleptic properties and seed germination potentiality. Overall, the investigation strengthens the potentiality of Ne-CEO as a novel preservative of stored food commodities. Full article

Fusarium proliferatum is the causative agent of rice spikelet rot disease, which can produce a group of toxic secondary metabolites, especially fumonisins. Velvet complex is a master regulator governing the development processes and secondary metabolism in filamentous fungi. In this study, we investigated the biological functions of velvet members FpVeA and FpVelB in F. proliferatum. Compared with the wild-type Fp9 strain, deletion of FpveA or FpvelB genes resulted in retarded hyphal growth but promoted conidiation. Disruption mutants exhibited decreased conidial trehalose contents and enhanced sensitivity to H₂O₂ stress, as well as inducing expression of photoreceptors. Notably, inactivation of FpveA or FpvelB led to a reduction in production of fumonisin B1 (FB1), coinciding with downregulation of fumonisin biosynthetic genes. Furthermore, the absence of FpveA or FpvelB displayed attenuated virulence toward rice spikelets, accompanied by fewer invasive hyphae and a failure of penetration ability. Taken together, these results demonstrated that FpVeA and FpVelB play crucial roles in the asexual development, oxidative stress, toxin synthesis and pathogenicity of F. proliferatum. Full article

Xylanolytic enzymes of the Fusarium species are closely associated with pathogenesis, where they soften plant cell walls to facilitate infection and nutrient uptake. This study investigated the xylanolytic system of Fusarium proliferatum PSA-3, a strain isolated from mango leaves showing dark spot symptoms. When cultivated on rice straw under solid-state fermentation, PSA-3 produced high xylanase activity against rye arabinoxylan (50.2 U) and beechwood xylan (56.8 U). Partial purification by ion-exchange and gel-filtration chromatography yielded a large xylanase aggregate (158 kDa), which appeared as a smear at the top of the gel under native conditions. Mild denaturation resolved the aggregate into at least four active proteins of ~25, 35, 48, and 63 kDa, indicating that multiple xylanases assemble into a functional aggregate. The aggregate retained activity across pH 4.0–8.0, with an optimum at pH 5.0 and 50 °C, and was resistant to Ni²⁺, Fe²⁺, Co²⁺, and β-mercaptoethanol, but inhibited by SDS. Hydrolysis of xylo-oligosaccharides (DP 2–6), purified xylans, and plant-derived xylans confirmed predominantly endo-type action with debranching activity toward A²XX and A^2,3XX. These findings reveal a natural xylanase aggregate in F. proliferatum, providing a potential mechanism for efficient degradation of arabinoxylan-rich cell walls and offering targets for antifungal strategies and biotechnological applications. Full article

The fruiting stage of soybean (Glycine max L.) is critical for determining both its yield and quality, thereby influencing global production. While some studies have provided partial explanations for the occurrence of Fusarium species on soybean seeds and pods, the fungal diversity affecting soybean pods in Sichuan Province, a major soybean cultivation region in Southwestern China, remains inadequately understood. In this study, 182 infected pods were collected from a maize–soybean relay strip intercropping system. A total of 10 distinct pod-infecting fungal genera (132 isolates) were identified, and their pathogenic potential on soybean seeds and pods was evaluated. Using morphological characteristics and DNA barcode markers, we identified 43 Fusarium isolates belonging to 8 species, including F. verticillioides, F. incarnatum, F. equiseti, F. proliferatum, F. fujikuroi, F. oxysporum, F. chlamydosporum, and F. acutatum through the analysis of the translation elongation factor gene (EF1-α) and RNA polymerases II second largest subunit (RPB2) gene. Multi-locus phylogenetic analysis, incorporating the Internal Transcribed Spacer (rDNA ITS), β-tubulin (β-tubulin), Glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GADPH), Chitin Synthase 1 (CHS-1), Actin (ACT), Beta-tubulin II (TUB2), and Calmodulin (CAL) genes distinguished 37 isolates as 6 Colletotrichum species, including C. truncatum, C. karstii, C. cliviicola, C. plurivorum, C. boninense, and C. fructicola. Among these, F. proliferatum and C. fructicola were the most dominant species, representing 20.93% and 21.62% of the isolation frequency, respectively. Pathogenicity assays revealed significant damage from both Fusarium and Colletotrichum isolates on soybean pods and seeds, with varying isolation frequencies. Of these, F. proliferatum, F. acutatum, and F. verticillioides caused the most severe symptoms. Similarly, within Colletotrichum genus, C. fructicola was the most pathogenic, followed by C. truncatum, C. karstii, C. cliviicola, C. plurivorum, and C. boninense. Notably, F. acutatum, C. cliviicola, C. boninense, and C. fructicola were identified for the first time as pathogens of soybean pods under the maize–soybean strip intercropping system in Southwestern China. These findings highlight emerging virulent pathogens responsible for soybean pod decay and provide a valuable foundation for understanding the pathogen population during the later growth stages of soybean. Full article

Species of Trichoderma are currently in high demand as eco-friendly and commercial biocontrol agents due to the proliferation of organic farming methods. This study focused on the potential biocontrol agents of Trichoderma against plant-pathogenic fungi. Trichoderma strains were isolated from different sources (soil, grapevine tissues, lemon fruit, and maize seeds), and were characterized morphologically on two culture media, i.e., Potato Dextrose Agar and Malt Extract Agar, and molecularly using two gene regions: translation elongation factor 1 (TEF) and nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS). Phylogenetic trees were constructed. As a result, two Trichoderma species were identified, i.e., T. afroharzianum and T. longibrachiatum. The biocontrol effects of all isolated strains of Trichoderma on Fusarium plant damping-off and the promotion of plant growth were evaluated. Additionally, the antagonistic efficiency of Trichoderma spp. against F. proliferatum using the dual-culture method was evaluated. Under greenhouse conditions, T. afroharzianum strains AEMCTa3 and AEMCTa6 were used to treat maize plants infected with Fusarium. The application of Trichoderma significantly reduced the disease index to 15.6% and 0%, respectively. Additionally, maize seedlings showed significant improvements in shoot and root lengths and fresh and dry weights and increased photosynthetic pigment contents compared to Fusarium-infected plants and the untreated control. The gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis of T. afroharzianum extracts identified a variety of bioactive compounds. These compounds included antifungal substances like N-ethyl-1,3-dithioisoindoline, as well as plant growth-promoting hormones like 6-pentyl-α-pyrone and gibberellic acid. Interestingly, the analysis also revealed new phenylacetic acid derivatives that may play important roles in both plant health and disease resistance. From a practical perspective, developing diverse application methods for Trichoderma is essential to optimize its role as a biocontrol agent and a plant growth promoter, thereby supporting sustainable agriculture through improved adaptability and effectiveness across different farming systems. Full article

The efficient compounding of microbial agents for use in aerobic composting processes is a pressing problem that needs to be addressed. This work focused on the lack of effective oil-degrading microorganisms and the challenges in formulating microbial consortia during the composting of food waste (FW). Following the isolation of three bacteria and three fungi with high oil-degrading ability, a simplex-lattice mixture design methodology was used to conduct compounding within and between groups of bacteria and fungi. Three special cubic response models were successfully developed and validated by performing an analysis of variance. From our analysis, it was demonstrated that the three models had high R² values of 96.06%, 97.18%, and 96.27%. The global solution of the mixture optimization predicted the optimal value for a blend comprising 11.83% Agrobacterium tumefaciens, 8.10% Pseudomonas geniculata, 10.97% Luteibacter rhizovicinus, 20.9% Simplicillium cylindrosporum, 22.3% Fusarium proliferatum, and 25.9% Simplicillium lanosoniveum. Thus, these proportions were considered the optimal combination of strains for oil degradation during FW composting. Composting verification in a 60 L fermenter revealed that the composite microbial agent group had a 31.3% higher oil degradation efficiency than the control group. This work provides valuable insights for the compounding of microbial agents and the resource utilization of rural FW. Full article

The velvet complex is a master regulator of multiple physiological processes in filamentous fungi. In this study, we characterized the functions of velvet gene FpvelC in Fusarium proliferatum, which was the causative agent of rice spikelet rot disease. Compared with the wild-type Fp9 strain, deletion of FpvelC hindered conidiation, leading to a low level of trehalose content but excessive accumulation of chitin in conidia. Lack of FpvelC resulted in increased sensitivity to oxidative stress and decreased expression of antioxidant genes. Notably, ΔFpvelC exhibited attenuated pathogenicity on rice and maize, failure to produce invasive hyphae, and downregulation of genes encoding xylanases and xyloglucanases during infection processes. Nevertheless, disruption of FpvelC enhanced production of fumonisin B1 (FB1) and fusaric acid concomitantly; transcripts of the clustering genes responsible for the two mycotoxins’ biosynthesis were significantly increased. Additionally, the absence of FpvelC was displayed as more sensitive to rapamycin than the Fp9 strain, accompanied with less intracellular glutamine. Overall, FpvelC played versatile roles in conidiation, response to oxidative stress, pathogenicity and mycotoxins production in F. proliferatum. Full article

Maize (Zea may L.) is one of the most important crops worldwide, but ear rot poses a significant threat to its production. Diverse pathogens cause ear rot in China, with Fusarium spp. being predominant, especially Fusarium graminearum and Fusarium verticillioides. Current methods for the control of ear rot are limited, making the use of resistant germplasm resources an effective and economical management strategy. Earlier research focused on resistance to Fusarium ear rot (FER; caused by F. verticillioides) and Gibberella ear rot (GER; caused by F. graminearum), but assessing maize resistance to multiple major Fusarium spp. is critical in ensuring maize production. Thus, the resistance of 343 maize germplasm resources to ear rot caused by six Fusarium spp. (F. verticillioides, F. graminearum, F. proliferatum, F. meridionale, F. subglutinans, and F. temperatum) was evaluated in this study. Over three years, 69 and 77 lines resistant to six and five ear rot diseases, respectively, and 139 lines resistant to both FER and GER were identified. Moreover, the 343 germplasm resources were divided into eight heterotic groups, of which PH4CV was the most resistant one, whereas NSS and Pioneer Female were the least resistant ones. These findings provide a basis for the development of maize cultivars with broad-spectrum ear rot resistance. Full article

Several species of Fusarium are reported to infect inflorescences of high-THC-containing cannabis (Cannabis sativa L.) plants grown in greenhouses in Canada. These include F. graminearum, F. sporotrichiodes, F. proliferatum, and, to a lesser extent, F. oxysporum and F. solani. The greatest concern surrounding the infection of cannabis by these Fusarium species, which cause symptoms of bud rot, is the potential for the accumulation of mycotoxins that may go undetected. In the present study, both naturally infected and artificially infected inflorescence tissues were tested for the presence of fungal-derived toxins using HPLC-MS/MS analysis. Naturally infected cannabis tissues were confirmed to be infected by both F. avenaceum and F. graminearum using PCR. Pure cultures of these two species and F. sporotrichiodes were inoculated onto detached inflorescences of two cannabis genotypes, and after 7 days, they were dried and assayed for mycotoxin presence. In these assays, all Fusarium species grew prolifically over the tissue surface. Tissues infected by F. graminearum contained 3-acetyl DON, DON, and zearalenone in the ranges of 0.13–0.40, 1.18–1.91, and 31.8 to 56.2 μg/g, respectively, depending on the cannabis genotype. In F. sporotrichiodes-infected samples, HT2 and T2 mycotoxins were present at 13.9 and 10.9 μg/g in one genotype and were lower in the other. In F. avenaceum-inoculated tissues, the mycotoxins enniatin A, enniatin A1, enniatin B, and enniatin B1 were produced at varying concentrations, depending on the isolate and cannabis genotype. Unexpectedly, these tissues also contained detectable levels of 3-acetyl DON, DON, and zearalenone, which was attributed to apre-existing natural infection by F. graminearum that was confirmed by RT-qPCR. Beauvericin was detected in tissues infected by F. avenaceum and F. sporotrichiodes, but not by F. graminearum. Naturally infected, dried inflorescences from which F. avenaceum was recovered contained beauvericin, enniatin A1, enniatin B, and enniatin B1 as expected. Uninoculated cannabis inflorescences were free of mycotoxins except for culmorin at 0.348 μg/g, reflecting pre-existing infection by F. graminearum. The mycotoxin levels were markedly different between the two cannabis genotypes, despite comparable mycelial colonization. Tall fescue plants growing in the vicinity of the greenhouse were shown to harbor F. avenaceum and F. graminearum, suggesting a likely external source of inoculum. Isolates of both species from tall fescue produced mycotoxins when inoculated onto cannabis inflorescences. These findings demonstrate that infection by F. graminearum and F. avenaceum, either from artificial inoculation or natural inoculum originating from tall fescue plants, can lead to mycotoxin accumulation in cannabis inflorescences. However, extensive mycelial colonization following prolonged incubation of infected tissues under high humidity conditions is required. Inoculations with Penicillium citrinum and Aspergillus ochraceus under these conditions produced no detectable mycotoxins. The mycotoxins alternariol and tentoxin were detected in several inflorescence samples, likely as a result of natural infection by Alternaria spp. Fusarium avenaceum is reported to infect cannabis inflorescences for the first time and produces mycotoxins in diseased tissues. Full article

Fusarium spp. represent a critical threat to maize production and food safety due to their mycotoxin production. This study introduces a refined molecular identification protocol integrating four genomic regions—ITS1, IGS, TEF-1α, and β-TUB—for robust species differentiation of Fusarium spp. isolates from post-harvest maize in Bulgaria. The protocol enhances species resolution, especially for closely related taxa within the Fusarium fujikuroi species complex (FFSC). A newly optimized multiplex PCR strategy was developed using three primer sets, each designed to co-amplify a specific pair of toxigenic genes: fum6/fum8, tri5/tri6, and tri5/zea2. Although all five genes were analyzed, they were detected through separate two-target reactions, not in a single multiplex tube. Among 17 identified isolates, F. proliferatum (52.9%) dominated, followed by F. verticillioides, F. oxysporum, F. fujikuroi, and F. subglutinans. All isolates harbored at least one toxin biosynthesis gene, with 18% co-harboring genes for both fumonisins and zearalenone. This dual-protocol approach enhances diagnostic precision and supports targeted mycotoxin risk management strategies. Full article

Fumarase plays a pivotal role in the tricarboxylic acid cycle, but its functions in plant pathogenic fungi are not well understood. We identified two fumarase genes in Fusarium proliferatum and generated individual deletion mutants. Loss of FpFumB led to defects in growth, sporulation, stress tolerance, and virulence. Exogenous malate supplementation restored growth defects. Site-directed mutagenesis of residues G452 and A463 reduced FpFumB enzyme activity. Transcriptomic analysis identified significant changes in gene expression related to different metabolic pathways. Protein interaction assays showed that FpFumB interacts with the DNA repair protein FpSae2. Both ΔFpFumB and ΔFpSae2 mutants displayed altered sensitivity to DNA-damaging agents and reduced virulence, indicating that FpFumB modulates DNA repair and pathogenicity through its interaction with FpSae2. Together, these findings highlight FpFumB as a key regulator of basic biological processes, DNA damage repair, and virulence in Fusarium proliferatum. Full article

Rice bakanae disease (RBD), a major threat in rice-cropping nations, can reduce rice yield and quality. As it is a seed-borne disease, effective seed detection is crucial. Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) can rapidly and specifically amplify DNA at a constant temperature with high sensitivity. This research uses LAMP to develop rapid RBD pathogen detection systems. Primers were designed targeting the NRPS31 gene of Fusarium fujikuroi and conserved TEF1α sequences of Fusarium asiaticum, Fusarium proliferatum, and Fusarium andiyazi. These reactions at 60 °C for 60 min had a detection limit of 100 pg·μL⁻¹, and LAMP proved applicable in field trials. Full article

Cepharanthine (CEP) is a natural bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloid known for its antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory activities. Its antifungal effect, however, has not been well studied. In this work, we used machine learning-based virtual screening with Random Forest, Neural Network, and Support Vector Machine models to identify potential inhibitors of Fusarium solani. CEP was selected as a candidate and tested experimentally. The results showed that it inhibited the growth of Fusarium solani, Fusarium proliferatum, Fusarium oxysporum, Alternaria alternata, and Botrytis cinerea. It also reduced the sporulation and spore germination of Fusarium solani and disrupted its redox balance. Transcriptome analysis showed changes in gene expression related to basic metabolic pathways. Molecular docking suggested that CEP binds to the FsCFEM1 protein, and molecular dynamics simulations confirmed stable binding, with key roles for residues THR748 and LEU950. These results suggest that CEP is a potential bio-based antifungal agent and provide novel insights into its mechanism against Fusarium solani. 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

Vicia species are of great value in ecological restoration, soil improvement, and the development of a forage resource. In 2024, a novel pod disease affecting four-seeded vetches (Vicia tetrasperma) emerged in Rongchang District, China, leading to severe yield loss. After obtaining the main pathogenic strain, FVS1, through the tissue isolation method, which was verified according to Koch’s postulates, and by combining morphological characteristics with multigene phylogenetic analysis, FVS1 was identified as Fusarium proliferatum. The biological properties indicated that the most suitable culture medium of the fungus was oatmeal agar (OA), with the optimum growth temperature 25 °C and the lethal temperature being 35 °C. FVS1 exhibited insensitivity within a pH range of 7 to 9, as well as high adaptability to variations in light duration. To elucidate the physiological and biochemical changes in four-seeded vetches in response to FVS1 infection, non-targeted metabolomics analysis identified 379 differential metabolites, mainly comprising organic acids and derivatives, lipids and lipid-like molecules, and phenylpropanoids and polyketides. The results demonstrated that F. proliferatum primarily induced the disease by influencing alterations in the secondary metabolites associated with amino acid metabolism, lipid metabolism, and flavonoid biosynthesis. Four-seeded vetches improved tolerance to the fungus by accumulating histidine, aspartic acid, arginosuccinate, ethanolamine, glycerophosphocholine, naringenin, and catechin. Trichoderma harzianum (M3) had the best control effectiveness, and the inhibition rate was 60.68%. This study, for the first time, revealed that F. proliferatum caused a pod disease in four-seeded vetches. We analyzed the mechanism of plant–pathogen interaction and screened potential biocontrol strains, providing a theoretical basis for regional disease management. Full article