Search Results (97)

Fungal decay fundamentally alters moisture transport in wood through complex bio-physical coupling mechanisms that remain poorly understood. Brown-rot fungi such as Coniophora puteana (Schumach.: Fr.) P. Karst. degrade wood through chelator-mediated Fenton (CMF) chemistry, producing hydroxyl radicals that depolymerise cellulose and hemicellulose before significant mass loss. This diffusion-dependent process requires elevated moisture content and leads to structural degradation. However, existing models fail to capture the interaction between boundary-driven fungal colonization, decay-induced property changes, and multi-phase multi-Fickian moisture redistribution, particularly the separate evolution of bound- and free-water phases during decay. Here, we present a transport-response bio-hygrothermal finite element model that couples boundary-driven Monod-type fungal colonization kinetics with multi-phase moisture transport (free water, bound water, vapor) in decaying wood. Although fungal biomass evolution is simulated via a reaction–diffusion equation, decay progression is not derived from biomass–substrate interaction but prescribed independently as an experimentally informed input. The model incorporates decay-modified sorption isotherms, permeability evolution, and boundary-driven biomass influx, along with associated moisture transport, into the governing equations. The model is validated against low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (LF-NMR) measurements of C. puteana decay in Scots pine over 35 days. The model successfully reproduces the experimentally observed moisture evolution: a peak free-water content of 50%–70% during weeks 1–2, followed by a progressive decline, while bound water remains remarkably constant despite advancing decay. Monte Carlo uncertainty quantification demonstrates hierarchical parameter control: bound water is governed solely by thermodynamic factors, while free water responds to interacting biological and physical processes. Time-resolved correlation analysis shows a fundamental transition from colonization-dominated (weeks 1–2) to transport-dominated (weeks 3–5) moisture control, quantitatively explaining the experimentally observed shift from accumulation to depletion. This transport-response framework for analyzing moisture behavior under externally defined decay progression establishes quantitative parameter hierarchies that may inform the development of future substrate-coupled bio-hygrothermal models. Full article

Tomato fruit rot severely impacts yield and quality, causing economic losses. This study aimed to identify the pathogenic fungi associated with post-harvest tomato fruit rot and characterize the transcriptomic responses of tomatoes. Pathogens were isolated from diseased tomato fruit tissues and identified using morphology, phylogenetic analysis, and in vitro pathogenicity tests. The genome of Cladosporium oxysporum Co-1 was assembled and annotated. RNA-seq analysis was used to profile transcriptional changes in tomatoes infected with C. oxysporum Co-1, with RT-qPCR validating the RNA-seq data and spectrophotometric assays analyzing the host physiological responses. Three pathogenic fungi were isolated. Colonies of C. oxysporum exhibited a near-circular shape, with colonies transitioning from an olive-green center to gray-green at the edges, and based on ITS, β-tubulin, and EF-1α gene sequences, this isolate exhibited 99% identity with C. oxysporum. The other two fungal isolates were identified as Alternaria alternata and Fusarium incarnatum, respectively, based on morphological and multi-locus sequence analysis. All three strains induced fruit rot and browning in tomatoes, confirming their pathogenicity. The genome size of C. oxysporum Co-1 was 34,515,558 bp, comprising 52 scaffolds with a GC content of 52.82%, and encoding 10,081 protein-coding genes. RNA-seq analysis showed dynamic gene expression changes in tomatoes infected with strain A, with differentially expressed genes enriched in pathogenicity-related pathways. Spectrophotometric assays revealed that peroxidase and superoxide dismutase activities decreased initially followed by an increase post-inoculation with C. oxysporum, indicating that tomatoes defend against pathogen infection through the antioxidant enzyme system. These findings revealed the pathogenic fungi were associated with post-harvest tomato rot disease, provided genomic resources for C. oxysporum, and provided insight into the host’s response to this strain. Full article

Amylocorticiales forms a well-supported clade within Agaricomycetes, Basidiomycota, and most of the species have resupinate basidiomes and cause brown rot on wood. It is one of the smallest orders of the basidiomycetes, with the species diversity and phylogeny being understudied. In the present study, we conduct phylogenetic analyses based on the concatenated ITS + nLSU sequence dataset of the order with an emphasis on the samples from southern China. As a result, ten new lineages were found. Combined with the morphological evidence, two new genera and six new species are described and illustrated, and four new combinations are proposed. Amylophanerochaete hainanense gen. et sp. nov. is closely related to Serpulomyces but differs in having smooth hymenophores with rhizomorphs and narrowly cylindrical to slightly sigmoid amyloid basidiospores. The new genus Pseudoathelia is proposed to accommodate Leptosporomyces linzhiense and Athelia septentrionalis, two athelioid species. Four new species, viz. Amylocorticium athelioides, A. bisporum, A. guangxiense, and A. luteolum, collected from southern China, formed distinct lineages within the Amylocorticium clade. Serpulomyces borealis, the only species of the genus, is proven to be a species complex, while one new species, S. subborealis, and two new combinations, S. rhizomorphus and S. yunnanensis, transferred from Ceraceomyces, are found in the lineage. An identification key to all the known genera is provided. Full article

The natural durability of wood, determined primarily by its chemistry, meets the growing demand for environmentally sustainable alternatives to toxic wood preservatives. This study assessed the relationship between the fungitoxic acetone extractive content, in particular resin acids and stilbenes, and heartwood decay resistance among fifty-two Pinus nigra J. F. Arnold clones from a clonal seed orchard in Greece. Quantitative ¹H-NMR spectroscopy was employed to determine total stilbenes (TSs) and total resin acids (TRAs) in heartwood samples, while decay resistance was evaluated through standardized weight loss tests using the brown-rot fungus Coniophora puteana (Schumach.) P. Karst. (1865) and the white-rot fungus Porodaedalea pini (Brot.) Murrill (1905). The heartwood exhibited exceptionally high extractive content (mean TAE = 304.15 mg g_dhw⁻¹), with resin acids (68.26%) predominating over stilbenes (22.31%). Regression analysis showed that the TAE and TRAs were the strongest predictors of decay resistance, explaining 33% of the variance, while stilbenes exhibited weaker and more variable associations. P. pini caused significantly higher mean weight loss (11.43%) than C. puteana (3.55%), indicating species-specific fungal aggressiveness. Among individual resin acids, abietic acids were the most influential contributors to decay resistance. The results demonstrate that resin acids have a dominant role over stilbenes in determining the natural durability of P. nigra (Black pine) heartwood and could serve as effective biochemical markers for selective breeding. Full article

In the last decade, avocado production has increased in Italy due to the fruit’s high nutritional quality and economic value. During 2024, stem lesions, wood discoloration and dieback, often starting at the grafting point, were observed in young plants in a nursery in Sicily (Italy). Colletotrichum-like colonies were frequently isolated from symptomatic tissues. Multi-locus phylogenetic analysis (gapdh, chs-1, act, tub2, cal, gs and ApMat) was conducted on 11 representative isolates, identifying 6 as C. perseae and 5 as C. gloeosporioides sensu stricto (s.s.). Two representative isolates were selected for pathogenicity tests performed on 2-year-old avocado plants cultivated in a greenhouse. After two months, necrotic lesions, wood discoloration and reddish-brown streaking at the inoculation point were induced in both species. Additional inoculations of avocado fruit confirmed the ability of both species to cause fruit rot. All inoculated fungi were successfully re-isolated and identified, fulfilling Koch’s postulates. This is the first report of stem lesions and dieback caused by Colletotrichum species and the first occurrence of C. perseae in avocado plants in Europe. The results highlight the importance of early monitoring in nurseries during the propagation process and contribute to a better understanding of fungal diseases in avocado crops in Italy. Full article

Studies of microbial degradation of historic woods are essential to help protect and preserve these important cultural properties. The USS Cairo is a historic Civil War gunboat and one of the first steam-powered and ironclad ships used in the American Civil War. Built in 1861, the ship sank in the Yazoo River of Mississippi in 1862 after a mine detonated and tore a hole in the port bow. The ship remained on the river bottom and was gradually buried with sediments for over 98 years. After recovery of the ship, it remained exposed to the environment before the first roofed structure was completed in 1980, and it has been displayed under a tensile fabric canopy with open sides at the Vicksburg National Military Park in Vicksburg, Mississippi. Concerns over the long-term preservation of the ship initiated this investigation to document the current condition of the wooden timbers, identify the fungi that may be present, and determine the elemental composition resulting from past wood-preservative treatments. Micromorphological characteristics observed using scanning electron microscopy showed that many of the timbers were in advanced stages of degradation. Eroded secondary cell walls leaving a weak framework of middle lamella were commonly observed. Soft rot attack was prevalent, and evidence of white and brown rot degradation was found in some wood. DNA extraction and sequencing of the ITS region led to the identification of a large group of diverse fungi that were isolated from ship timbers. Soft rot fungi, including Alternaria, Chaetomium, Cladosporium, Curvularia, Xylaria and others, and white rot fungi, including Bjerkandera, Odontoefibula, Phanerodontia, Phlebiopsis, Trametes and others, were found. No brown rot fungi were isolated. Elemental analyses using induced coupled plasma spectroscopy revealed elevated levels of all elements as compared to sound modern types of wood. High concentrations of boron, copper, iron, lead, zinc and other elements were found, and viable fungi were isolated from this wood. Biodegradation issues are discussed to help long-term conservation efforts to preserve the historic ship for future generations. Full article

The antifungal effect of catechin and extractives from Prosopis juliflora was studied against one white rot fungus, Trametes versicolor (TV), and one brown rot fungus, Poria placenta (PP). The mentioned extractives from Prosopis julilfora were crude mesquitol and pure mesquitol. Tebuconazole was used in this study as a known fungicide against the two named fungi. Wood preservation using the current synthetic fungicides can be harmful to the environment and toxic to animals and plants. To help solve these problems, fungicides can be mixed with natural extractives to act synergistically as wood preservatives. Most of these natural extractives contain polyphenols, which are secondary metabolites, having good antioxidant properties, which may inhibit radical species involved in wood cell polymer defects. In this study, 1000 ppm and 5000 ppm of crude mesquitol, pure mesquitol and catechin had a very good growth inhibition against TV and PP. Thus, the concentrations were used to assess their synergistic response when mixed with lower inhibitory concentration of tebuconazole. The results showed that there was an additive effect in a combination of 0.1 ppm tebuconazole with 1000 ppm pure mesquitol for PP, 0.5 ppm Tebuconazole with 1000 ppm crude mesquitol and pure mesquitol for PP and 0.5 ppm tebuconazole with 1000 ppm pure mesquitol for TV. The other remaining combinations of 1000 ppm/5000 ppm of the samples with 0.1 ppm/0.5 ppm tebuconazole all had synergistic effect. This data suggests that a combination of polyphenols (catechin and extractives) with tebuconazoles can be useful sources for preparation of fungicides and wood preservatives for agricultural use and wood durability, respectively. Full article

The antimicrobial activity of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) makes them a valuable tool in various industries. Recently, biosynthesis has become the preferred method for nanoparticle synthesis, and among organisms that can be used as AgNP producers, filamentous fungi have attracted the greatest interest. In particular, wood decay fungi are considered promising candidates for AgNP biosynthesis. Biogenic AgNPs have been proven to have strong antibacterial potential and antifungal activity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antifungal potential of AgNPs synthesized using the brown-rot decay fungus Gloeophyllum striatum DSM 9592 against four pathogenic fungal strains: Candida albicans, Malassezia furfur, Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus fumigatus. Moreover, changes in the tested strains’ lipidome and cell membrane properties induced by the presence of AgNPs were investigated. The results revealed that the obtained AgNPs exerted fungistatic activity against all the strains tested. M. furfur, with a MIC value of 0.39 μg/mL obtained for all AgNP types, was found to be the most susceptible to the action of AgNPs. The lipidomic analysis revealed that the presence of AgNPs caused an increase in cell membrane fluidity in both A. flavus and C. albicans, and the mechanisms of response to AgNPs differed between the tested strains. Full article

Monilinia fructicola causes brown rot on a wide variety of stone fruits, causing several losses in the field and during storage of fruits. Due to the diverse biological activity of chalcones and their derivatives, they have emerged as a promising alternative for controlling phytopathogenic fungi. The aim of this study was to synthesize 3′,4′-methylenedioxychalcone derivatives and evaluate their in vitro inhibitory effect on mycelial growth and the conidial germination of M. fructicola. Additionally, a molecular docking study and the prediction of lipophilicity were carried out to investigate their chemical behavior. The results showed that compound F exhibited the most potent antifungal activity, with EC₅₀ and MIC values of 20.61 µg/mL and <10 µg/mL for mycelial growth and conidial germination, respectively, presenting an adequate lipophilicity (Log p values = 2.79), which would allow proper diffusion through the fungal cell membrane. The in silico study revealed a great number of interactions between compound F and the different active sites of the succinate dehydrogenase enzyme, suggesting a favorable interaction with a binding energy score value of −6.9 kcal/mol, similar to CBE, the native ligand of this enzyme. These types of compounds could provide preventive protection in various stone and other crops. Full article

Fengtang plum, a novel cultivar recently developed in China, has gained huge popularity due to its large fruit size, crisp sweetness, distinctive aroma, and notable resistance to brown rot caused by Monilinia spp. To investigate microbial community dynamics during fruit development, we analyzed samples from three phenological stages: fruit-setting (BSP1), veraison (BSP2), and maturity (BSP3). Our results demonstrated stage-specific microbial succession patterns: alpha diversity indices (observed species, ACE, PD_whole_tree) significantly increased at BSP2/BSP3 versus BSP1, accompanied by diverging Shannon index trends between bacteria (progressive enhancement) and fungi (stage-dependent reduction). Bacterial communities maintained Proteobacteria and Firmicutes dominance while accumulating low-abundance species (18.06–61.84%), whereas Ascomycota constituted the persistent fungal phylum with Trichoderma, reaching 95.91% dominance at BSP3. Community differentiation primarily arose from stage-specific bacteria Ralstonia, Brevundimonas, and Limnobacter, and dominant fungi Trichoderma and Cladosporium. Bacterial metabolic shifts were predicted to transition from basic energy production to complex organic/aromatic compound utilization, contrasting with fungal transitions from pathogen–saprophyte competition to saprophytic dominance. While the enrichment of Lactobacillus and Trichoderma during mid-to-late stages may suggest potential associations with aromatic compound production and fungal pathogen resistance, these hypotheses require validation through targeted metabolomics and pathogen challenge experiments. This study elucidates microbial community succession patterns during Fengtang plum development; notably, functional predictions were inferred from 16S/ITS sequencing data rather than direct metagenomic or metatranscriptomic analyses, thus limiting mechanistic interpretations, though future work integrating multi-omics approaches would strengthen functional insights. Full article

The degradation of deadwood is a vital ecological process for geochemical cycling and biodiversity conservation, with two main routes of fungal degradation: brown and white rot. Brown rot fungi cause severe destruction of wood cellulose and lead to brown and modified lignin residue. Fomitopsis pinicola is a typical brown rot fungus with a distinct host preference for coniferous trees. The mechanisms through which this fungus degrades coniferous and broadleaf wood remain poorly understood. Therefore, in this study, a 60-day cultivation experiment involving F. pinicola growing on deadwood strips of Pinus koraiensis and Betula platyphylla separately was performed. A comparative transcriptome analysis was carried out to explore the mechanisms underlying the differences in degradation, in terms of both physicochemical properties and transcriptomic data. The findings revealed that the host preference of F. pinicola resulted in the more efficient degradation of coniferous wood than broadleaf wood, accompanied by higher gene expression levels. GO enrichment analysis indicated that this preference was primarily associated with the hydrolytic enzyme family and processes related to the Fenton reaction, which is characteristic of brown rot fungi. Furthermore, the KEGG pathways showed that the DEGs were enriched in mainly included histidine metabolism, fatty acid degradation, and so on, indicating underlying carbohydrate and lipid metabolism processes. These results support P. pinicola’s strong ability to degrade the deadwood lignin of P. koraiensis, reflecting its adaptive evolution in host selection and choice of different ecological niches. Full article

Tannins, present in all plants, are the most abundant polyphenols in the world. Their potential as a raw material for modifying wood alongside furfuryl alcohol (FA) has already been demonstrated in previous studies. This study focused on using large quantities of hydrolysable tannins from chestnut (Castanea sativa) to replace as much FA as possible to chemically modify beech wood (Fagus sylvatica L.). Impregnation was carried out using different concentrations and ratios of both FA and tannins and tartaric acid as catalysts through a vacuum/atmospheric pressure cycle. Copolymerization was carried out for 24 h at 120 °C. Properties such as weight percent gain (WPG), leachability, anti-swelling efficiency (ASE), thermal stability, wettability and durability against brown rot (Coniophora puteana) and white rot (Coriolus versicolor) were analyzed and compared to a furfurylation treatment without the addition of tannins. These treatments were also chemically characterized using FTIR spectroscopy. The results showed that replacing 50% of FA mass by tannins largely increased WPG and demonstrated similar leachability and dimensional stability to standard furfurylation. Above all, the new treatment showed to have better resistance to wood-degrading fungi, in addition to improved wettability and thermal stability. Full article

European plum production is affected by mostly harm Monilinia spp., causing full pathogen brown-rot infections. The plums are the susceptible to the Monilinia fructigena pathogen, which is the most common in Europe. This study aims to analyze the gene expression profiles and signaling pathways of the European plum, cv. Victoria, inoculated with the M. fructigena pathogen at 24, 48, and 72 h post inoculation. By transcriptome sequencing, the number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) increased over time, with the highest number at 72 hpi, showing the tendency to involve more genes in the response to prolonged exposure to the pathogen. Pathogenesis-related (PR) family and mildew resistance locus O (MLO-like) proteins were expressed the most during plum response to the pathogen. The plum initiates complex defense responses by significantly activating 23 pathways according to Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG). In this study, expressed genes over the infection were in response to stress, defense, cell death, and disease resistance. The findings of this study could be used as the basis for further research of markers linked to resistance or susceptibility to disease in plum hybrids at an early age, which will improve the plum breeding process. Full article

Monilinia spp., which causes brown rot, is one of the most damaging pathogens in stone fruits. Researchers are exploring epiphytic and endophytic microorganisms with the potential to suppress pathogens, control pathogenic microorganisms, and/or promote plant growth. In this study, microorganisms with antagonistic activity against three Monilinia species were isolated from plum orchard soil and plum fruits. Antagonism tests in vitro showed strong antagonistic properties of six strains of bacteria and two yeast-like fungi against M. fructigena, M. fructicola, and M. laxa, with growth inhibition from 45.5 to 84.6%. The antagonists were identified and characterized at the genetic level using whole genome sequencing (WGS). Genes involved in antibiotic resistance, virulence, secondary metabolite synthesis, and plant growth promotion were identified and characterized through genome mapping, gene prediction, and annotation. None of the microorganisms studied were predicted to be pathogenic to humans. The results of this study indicate that the bacteria Bacillus pumilus, B. velezensis, two strains of Lysinibacillus agricola, Pseudomonas chlororaphis isolated from stone fruit orchard soil, and the yeast-like fungus Aureobasidium pullulans, isolated from plums, are promising candidates for the biological control of Monilinia spp. Full article

The Aloe barbadensis industry plays an important role in the economic development of Yuanjiang county of Yuxi city in Yunnan province, China. In order to reduce the harm of diseases and ensure the quality of products, the occurrence of A. barbadensis was investigated. The pathogenic fungi of wild and cultivated species of A. barbadensis were isolated by a tissue separation method, and DNA sequencing was carried out by using the sequence analysis of the ribosomal rDNA-ITS region, and the pathogenic fungi were classified and identified by finally combining morphological observations. The results showed that the main fungal diseases were root rot and leaf rot disease caused by Fusarium oxysporum, leaf spot disease caused by Curvularia lunata, anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum boninense, and brown spot disease caused by Alternaria alternata on A. barbadensis. Full article