Search Results (2,305)

Seed-associated microorganisms influence seed quality, seedling establishment, and plant health and also constitute a major source of seed-borne pathogens. Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) has emerged as a promising alternative to chemical seed treatments because of its antimicrobial activity, although its effects on fungal communities associated with developing seedlings remain poorly understood. Here, Arabidopsis thaliana seeds from two ecotypes (Columbia and Landsberg erecta) were exposed to CAP for 5 or 15 min. Seed decontamination efficiency was assessed by culturing on malt extract agar and nephelometric analyses, while fungal communities associated with seedlings derived from treated and untreated seeds were characterized by ITS1 amplicon sequencing. CAP efficiently reduced fungal contamination without affecting seed germination. CAP altered the composition of fungal communities associated with developing seedlings, but the magnitude of these changes depended on seed batch and ecotype. Dominant taxa markedly declined after treatment, whereas several low-abundance taxa increased in relative abundance. These findings demonstrate that CAP is an effective pesticide-free technology for seed decontamination and can also reshape fungal communities associated with developing seedlings, highlighting broader ecological consequences of plasma-based seed treatments. Full article

Fungi play essential roles in ecosystems as pathogens, mutualists, and ubiquitous decomposers. However, like many important microbes, the spatial distribution of species and natural populations remains poorly understood compared to plants and animals. Many fungi are described as global generalists because they occur across wide geographic areas, but it remains unclear how and if these species are constrained by climate or geographic barriers. In this study, we used Species Distribution Models to infer the global climatic suitability of three common and globally distributed fungi: Aspergillus flavus, Penicillium chrysogenum and Aspergillus fumigatus. Models were constructed using global occurrence data from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility and were trained with Bioclimatic variables from the WorldClim dataset. All species’ models showed high prediction fit, with predicted occurrence concentrated in the temperate and subtropical regions and broadly structured patterns. Each species showed distinct predicted distributions, but they displayed considerable spatial overlap on a global scale. Together, these results demonstrate that even apparently globally occurring and generalist fungal species occupy climatically structured niches. This study highlights the utility of SDMs and it provides a framework for future studies integrating ecological, genomics and evolutionary perspectives among the difficult to assess geographically widespread and common fungi. Full article

Pea root rot is a major soil-borne disease that threatens global pea production. In this study, diseased pea root samples were collected from Zhejiang Province for pathogen isolation and identification. The mycelial growth rate method was used to evaluate the sensitivity of the pathogens to different fungicides, and transcriptome analysis was performed to investigate the response mechanisms underlying pea root responses to pathogen infection. A total of eight fungal pathogens were identified, including Fusarium solani, F. commune, F. oxysporum, F. proliferatum, F. tricinctum, F. andiyazi, Alternaria alternata, and Didymella pinodella. Among them, F. solani and F. commune were the dominant pathogens. Both pathogens showed high sensitivity to prochloraz, with EC₅₀ values of 0.051 and 0.030 mg·L⁻¹, respectively. Transcriptome sequencing revealed that peas respond to pathogen infection through pathways related to secondary metabolism and plant hormone signal transduction. Furthermore, 14 candidate genes potentially involved in resistance to pea root rot were screened. Full article

Postharvest soft rot poses a severe threat to the kiwifruit industry. In response to this challenge, 20 trifluoromethyl-substituted dipyrimidinamine derivatives were designed and synthesized based on the molecular hybridization strategy. The bioassay results showed that most of the target compounds exhibited good inhibitory activity against plant pathogenic fungi. Among these compounds, compound 6p demonstrated the most potent activity against the postharvest pathogens Botryosphaeria dothidea and Phomopsis sp., with EC₅₀ values of 8.92 and 13.11 μg/mL, respectively, which were significantly better than the commercial fungicide pyrimethanil. At 200 μg/mL, the protective activity and therapeutic activity of compound 6p on kiwifruit were better than the commercial control pyrimethanil. Mechanistic evidence suggested that compound 6p markedly perturbs the structural integrity of the pathogenic fungal membrane, thereby triggering extensive leakage of proteins, nucleic acids, and other cytoplasmic contents, and provoking reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation. Molecular docking simulation results indicated strong binding affinity of the compound toward the crystal structure of a homologous cystathionine gamma-synthase. The results of this study provide an important scientific basis and molecular design reference for new trifluoromethylpyrimidine fungicides. Full article

Forests are an indispensable resource for human existence in the different regions of the world. Forests are often concentrated in a few parts and vary in size. The most important and extensive green reserve on Earth is the Amazon rainforest. Unfortunately, the forests are continually suffering massive losses due to abiotic stresses and deforestation to obtain other arable lands and microbial diseases, particularly those caused by pathogenic fungi. Pathogenic fungi play an important role in inducing oak decline, which is one of the most relevant forest diseases globally. The pathogens also affect disease development and its global distribution. In this review, the phytotoxins produced by fungal pathogens of different oak species in various world regions are described in depth. In particular, the isolation, the chemistry and biology of phytotoxins synthesized by oak pathogenic fungi are reported, and their role in pathogenesis is also discussed. For some phytotoxins, the enantioselective synthesis, the structure–biological activity relationships, and their utilization in agro-industry and medical applications are also discussed. In addition, for the Diplodia species, the comparison between their secondary metabolite profile and taxonomy with those of fungal pathogens of other close forest plants is discussed. Thus, fungal diseases of numerous oak trees and the serious damages they cause to the forest heritage are described, as well as the chemical and biological properties and results of some of the structure–activity relationship (SAR) studies of the phytotoxins involved. In addition, for the Diplodia species both phylogenetically closely related and unrelated, comparison between their secondary metabolite profile with those of pathogens of other close forest plants, in combination with traditional taxonomic characteristics, has helped to better understand the pathogenic process relationships within the same fungal f the pathogenic process within the same fungal family. Full article

Ticks are hematophagous arthropods that parasitize livestock, humans, and wild animals, posing serious threats to public health worldwide. Diverse pathogens have been discovered in ticks, including viruses, bacteria, protozoa, and filarial nematodes; however, ticks also harbor a variety of fungal microbes, which remain largely unexplored. In this study, we isolated and identified culturable fungi associated with ticks collected on cattle and goats in Yunnan Province, China. Of the 1730 ticks obtained, 1690 were identified as Rhipicephalus microplus, and only 40 as Haemaphysalis longicornis via morphology and 16S rRNA gene analysis. A total of 90 fungal strains were isolated from the ticks and identified by morphological examination and ITS sequencing, representing 25 species across 20 genera, with Fusarium being the most prevalent. Among these isolates, Fusarium verticillioides (19 isolates) poses a threat to grains, animals, and humans; Cladosporium cladosporioides (six isolates) and Sarocladium zeae (one isolate) are primarily pathogenic to plants, while Schizophyllum commune (eight isolates), Rhizopus arrhizus (two isolates), Diaporthe phaseolorum (two isolates), and Purpureocillium lilacinum (two isolates) are recognized animal-associated pathogens. The diversity of isolated fungi with documented pathogenicity suggests that ticks may serve as potential vectors for fungal transmission, raising concerns about their role in cross-kingdom disease spread across agriculture and livestock. Furthermore, fungi with entomopathogenic potential, such as P. lilacinum, offer valuable resources for developing biocontrol agents against ticks. Our findings highlight the dual role of ticks as both potential vectors of phytopathogenic fungi and reservoirs of entomopathogenic biocontrol agents. This necessitates a paradigm shift in tick surveillance, integrating mycological monitoring to mitigate agricultural losses and exploring tick-borne fungi for sustainable vector control strategies. Full article

A-to-I RNA editing is increasingly recognized as a regulator of fungal development and pathogenesis, yet its extent and lifecycle dependence remain poorly characterized in basidiomycetes. Microbotryum superbum (MvSup), M. intermedium (MI), and M. lychnidis-dioicae (MVLG) are members of the M. violaceum fungal complex. Each species infects specific host plant species, resulting in commonly anther-smut disease. The lifecycle of these basidiomycete fungi includes the haploid, mating, and infection stages. RNA editing is a post-transcriptional process where adenosine (A) is converted to inosine (I) by adenosine deaminase enzymes, and such modifications to RNAs may lead to synonymous and nonsynonymous codon changes, thereby altering protein function. Here, we compared A-to-I editing across the haploid, mating, and infection stages of these three related species to determine how editing patterns vary with lifecycle stage and among closely related fungal pathogens. The a2 haploid strain of MI had fewer editing sites compared to other haploid strains. The predicted codon/amino acid changes in each haploid strain across the three species indicated three primary types of resulting amino acid substitutions that were common to both of the mating-type strains across the three species: threonine to alanine, lysine to glutamic acid, and valine to alanine. During the mating stage of MvSup, a synonymous codon change was found in a mitogen-activated protein kinase domain-containing protein within the protein’s conserved region. Gene expression analysis revealed that certain genes, uniquely edited during the mating stage of MvSup, tend to be upregulated in the haploid stage but downregulated during mating, and vice versa. Research on RNA editing in basidiomycetes is relatively new. RNA editing mechanisms in fungi have been implicated in fungal pathogenesis, although the exact roles and implications remain unclear. Additional research will help us understand the functional significance of this apparently ubiquitous process in several members of the Microbotryum fungal complex, with possible ramifications more generally in fungi. Full article

Background: The mangrove ecosystem serves as a vital coastal ecotone, providing essential ecological services, such as water purification, shoreline protection, and biodiversity maintenance. Fungal pathogens threaten mangrove health and contribute to ecosystem degradation, but the molecular mechanisms underlying disease resistance in mangroves remain poorly explored. Introdustion: Thaumatin-like proteins (TLPs), belonging to the pathogenesis-related-5 (PR-5) family, play a crucial role in antifungal defense in plants. Method and results: In this study, we identified 23 TLP family members in the mangrove Aegiceras corniculatum. The genes encoding TLP family members were unevenly distributed on chromosomes. Collinearity analyses showed that TLP family members in A. corniculatum underwent multiple gene duplication events, and Ka/Ks calculations revealed that these duplicated genes were predominantly under purifying selection. Among the 23 TLPs, AcTLP19 was significantly upregulated after Botrytis cinerea infection. Subcellular localization prediction and experiments revealed the extracellular localization of AcTLP19. Conclusions: Heterologous expression and antibacterial tests showed that recombinant AcTLP19 had no direct antifungal activity against B. cinerea or Fusarium oxysporum under the tested conditions, leaving open the possibility that it contributes to mangrove defense through indirect mechanisms, or that its antifungal activity was not captured under the specific assay conditions. This study advances our knowledge of mangrove stress responses and may contribute to future conservation strategies. Full article

Understanding the ecological adaptability of Pennisetum giganteum (JUJUNCAO) and its long-term effects on rhizosphere microecology is critical for vegetation restoration in fragile ecosystems. In this study, we investigated the soil physicochemical properties and microbial community structure and function in the rhizosphere of P. giganteum cultivated for 1 and 3 years (Y1, Y3), alongside pre-planting soil (Y0), in a dry-hot valley in Chuxiong, Yunnan, China. Following three years of cultivation, the soil total carbon (TC), organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), nitrate nitrogen (NO₃⁻-N), total phosphorus (TP), and available phosphorus (AP) showed significant increases of 84.18%, 96.09%, 61.32%, 212.47%, 24.71%, and 22.19%, respectively, whereas the soil pH remained stable. Fungal communities showed significant declines in diversity and richness and a fundamental structural shift as early as one year after planting. In contrast, prokaryotic communities showed a relatively stable structure. Soil carbon and nitrogen variables were the factors most strongly associated with microbial community composition, and long-term cultivation concurrently enriched the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi Septoglomus and genera containing potential plant pathogens such as Fusarium and Nectria. The relative abundance of Nectria was positively correlated with the soil carbon and nitrogen contents (p < 0.05), suggesting a potential ecological trade-off between beneficial symbiosis and disease risk. Predicted functional pathway composition indicated a shift in microbial metabolism from basal pathways of phospholipid and nucleotide synthesis toward carbon-nitrogen metabolism via PWY-3781 and the glyoxylate shunt, with fungal community turnover more pronounced. Consequently, P. giganteum demonstrates considerable potential for ecological restoration in dry-hot valleys; however, long-term cultivation deserves attention due to potential nitrate loss and the accumulation of taxa containing potential pathogens, with fungal communities serving as sensitive bioindicators of soil health. Full article

Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is a broad-spectrum soilborne fungal pathogen, causing substantial yield losses in crops worldwide. Auxiliary Activity Family 5 (AA5) copper radical oxidases (CROs) are members of the carbohydrate active enzymes (CAZymes), valued for their potential as biocatalysts. Although they were reported to contribute to fungal development and disease progression in some phytopathogenic fungi such as Colletotrichum graminicola, the roles of AA5 enzymes in S. sclerotiorum remain largely unexplored. Here, we systematically investigated S. sclerotiorum AA5 genes through reverse genetics and biochemical approaches. Phylogenetic analysis grouped the S. sclerotiorum AA5 proteins into two subfamilies, including three subfamily 1 (AA5_1) members and one subfamily 2 (AA5_2) member. Enzymatic characterization revealed that one AA5_1 enzyme, SsAA5c, exhibited the highest catalytic specificity towards D-glyceraldehyde compared with methylglyoxal and glycerol. In addition, a predicted peroxidase gene (SsPX1) was identified in tandem with the putative AA5_2 gene, SsAA5d. Phenotypic analysis of gene deletion mutants demonstrated that these genes differentially affect fungal development and virulence. While their exact physiological substrates await identification, our findings highlight important roles of AA5 oxidases and the associated peroxidase in the biology of S. sclerotiorum, providing insights that may contribute to future improved disease management strategies. Full article

Fungal pathogens, such as Fusarium spp. and Alternaria spp., cause substantial yield losses worldwide through root and fruit rot, wilting, and leaf and fruit spots, and increasing restrictions on chemical pesticides have intensified interest in sustainable alternatives such as essential oils, plant extracts, and microbial biocontrol agents. However, these three treatment categories are rarely compared directly under identical experimental conditions, which limits conclusions about their relative efficacy. This study directly compared, for the first time under the same in vitro conditions, the antifungal activity of peppermint and thyme essential oils, clove and rosemary plant extracts, and three commercial biological products (Mycostop, Asir Fruit, Aegis) against Fusarium avenaceum and Alternaria alternata using the agar incorporation method, with fungicidal versus fungistatic activity determined by reinoculation. Most treatments inhibited mycelial growth of both pathogens relative to the untreated control, although a few treatments (Asir Fruit at early DAI and lowest-concentration thyme EO) showed no inhibition or even slight stimulation of A. alternata growth. At 7 days after inoculation, thyme essential oil (1000 µL/L) and clove plant extract at all concentrations tested completely inhibited both pathogens, and reinoculation confirmed that clove extract alone was fungicidal, likely reflecting its high eugenol content and consequent irreversible membrane damage; all other treatments were fungistatic, consistent with reversible effects on membrane permeability. Peppermint essential oil (2000 µL/L) inhibited F. avenaceum and A. alternata by 96% and 73%, respectively, while rosemary extract was comparatively weaker (57% and 21%). Among the commercial products, Mycostop, which contains Streptomyces griseoviridis, was the most effective, plausibly reflecting sustained antagonistic activity beyond metabolite secretion alone. These findings indicate that clove extract and thyme oil match or exceed commercial biocontrol products in vitro and warrant evaluation under greenhouse and field conditions as candidates for integrated disease management. Full article

Botrytis cinerea is a major fungal pathogen of grapevine responsible for gray mold, causing significant economic losses worldwide. Under specific environmental conditions, controlled development of Botrytis cinerea may lead to “noble rot,” a quality-enhancing attribute of premium wines; however, the same fungus can rapidly develop into destructive gray mold, causing significant grape losses. Consequently, the challenge is not necessarily the complete eradication of the pathogen, but the regulation of its development to prevent uncontrolled disease progression while preserving grape quality. The present study investigated the potential of using essential oils extracted from selected aromatic plants using ultrasound-assisted hydrodistillation (UAHD) as eco-friendly biocontrol agents against Botrytis cinerea. The extraction process was optimized by evaluating the effects of biomass particle size, ultrasonic power, and distillation time on essential oil yield. Antifungal activity was assessed through in vitro poisoned food and disk diffusion assays and validated in vivo on artificially inoculated grape berries by evaluating disease incidence, disease severity, treatment efficacy, and weight loss. Ultrasound pretreatment increased essential oil yield by up to 29.58% compared with conventional hydrodistillation, with optimal conditions achieved using 1 cm biomass, 150 W ultrasonic power, and 85 min distillation. Oregano, thyme, sage, and lemon balm essential oils achieved 100% inhibition of Botrytis cinerea mycelial growth at the tested concentrations, whereas lavender essential oil showed 95.03% inhibition at 0.125% and complete inhibition at 0.25%. In vivo, essential oil formulations markedly reduced gray mold development, with the 2.0% formulation providing the highest treatment efficacy and the lowest disease severity. These findings show that UAHD-derived essential oils represent promising sustainable alternatives for the management of Botrytis cinerea in viticulture. However, these findings represent preliminary evidence obtained under controlled in vitro conditions, necessitating further validation in real-world applications. Full article

Candida albicans biofilms are a major cause of persistent infections and contribute to antifungal resistance as well as limitations in drug delivery. Targeting virulence traits such as biofilm formation and hyphal transition represents an effective strategy for controlling fungal pathogenicity without exerting strong selective pressure on planktonic growth. In this study, a library of structurally diverse benzophenone derivatives was screened to identify compounds with antibiofilm and anti-hyphal activities against azole-resistant C. albicans. Most benzophenone derivatives exhibited weak antifungal activity (MIC ≥ 200 µg/mL). However, several halogenated benzophenones markedly suppressed biofilm formation. Among them, decafluorobenzophenone at 10 µg/mL displayed the strongest inhibition, reducing biofilm formation to approximately 1–2% of control levels while maintaining substantial planktonic cell viability. Microscopy confirmed hyphal suppression, while qRT-PCR showed a 36-fold reduction in ALS3 expression. These findings indicate that multi-halogenated benzophenones act primarily as anti-virulence agents targeting biofilm formation and hyphal development. Molecular docking suggested a possible interaction of decafluorobenzophenone with the Als3 binding pocket. Decafluorobenzophenone showed low toxicity, with unaffected Caenorhabditis elegans viability at 10 µg/mL, plant germination at 100 µg/mL, and only slight hemolysis at 100 µg/mL. The results highlight halogen substitution as a key structural determinant and identify benzophenone scaffolds as promising leads for developing novel antibiofilm strategies against azole-resistant Candida infections. Full article

As a major fungal pathogen of Brassica napus, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum causes significant yield reductions worldwide. Receptor-like proteins (RLPs) are essential components of plant immunity, but the functions of many RLPs in B. napus still remain unclear. In this study, three BnaSOBIR1-interacting leucine-rich repeat RLPs (LRR-RLPs), named BnaRLP-G13-2, BnaRLP-G13-3, and BnaRLP-G13-4, were identified by yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) and bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) assays. Promoter analysis revealed diverse cis-acting elements involved in stress and phytohormone responses. Overexpression of these genes significantly improved resistance to S. sclerotiorum in both Arabidopsis thaliana and B. napus. Consistently, BnaRLP-G13-2/3/4 restored disease resistance and NLP-induced ROS production in the rlp23-1 mutant. Furthermore, BiFC assays suggested an association between BnaRLP-G13-2/3/4 and Ssnlp24_SsNEP2-associated perception, although direct biochemical binding remains to be demonstrated. These findings advance the understanding of BnaSOBIR1-associated BnaRLP-G13-2/3/4-mediated immunity and provide new insights into enhancing disease resistance in oilseed crops. Full article

Olive leaves represent a metabolically active tissue that plays an important role in plant responses to biotic stress. The present study comprised two independent experiments investigating biochemical responses of olive leaves to bacterial and fungal challenge under controlled conditions. Changes in primary metabolites (sugars, organic acids and free amino acids), phenolic compounds and lipid peroxidation were analyzed using chromatographic and spectrophotometric methods. In the bacterial experiment, pronounced differences were observed in primary metabolism. Tryptophan concentrations ranged from approximately 50 mg kg⁻¹ DW to more than 360 mg kg⁻¹ DW in ‘Istarska bjelica’, while sucrose concentrations reached up to 87 g kg⁻¹ DW, demonstrating cultivar-dependent differences in carbohydrate metabolism. Phenolic profiling showed that secoiridoids were the dominant phenolic class, with oleuropein concentrations exceeding 27 g kg⁻¹ DW across bacterial treatments. In the fungal experiment, amino acids showed greater variability than sugars and phenolic compounds, whereas MDA concentrations ranged from approximately 190 to 300 nmol g⁻¹ DW but did not differ significantly among pathogen treatments. Overall, the two experiments showed distinct patterns of metabolite variation associated with bacterial and fungal challenge. These findings contribute to a better understanding of cultivar-dependent metabolic responses and provide a basis for future studies of olive–microbe interactions. Full article