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Ijuhya vitellina sp. nov., a Novel Source for Chaetoglobosin A, is a Destructive Parasite of the Cereal Cyst Nematode Heterodera filipjevi

Summary

Scientists have discovered a new fungal species that naturally attacks and kills harmful nematode worms that damage wheat crops. This fungus, named Ijuhya vitellina, invades nematode eggs and produces compounds that can paralyze the worms. The discovery is significant for agriculture because it could lead to new environmentally-friendly ways to control crop-damaging nematodes without using chemical pesticides. Key impacts on everyday life: • Could help develop natural alternatives to chemical pesticides for protecting wheat crops • May lead to reduced use of harmful chemical nematicides in agriculture • Demonstrates nature’s potential for providing sustainable pest control solutions • Could help improve wheat yields and food security • Shows promise for developing new environmentally-friendly agricultural products

Background

Cyst nematodes are globally important agricultural pathogens. Their sedentary lifestyle and long-term association with plant roots make them good targets for parasitic fungi. Previous studies have shown that various fungi can parasitize nematode cysts and eggs, potentially providing biological control options.

Objective

To characterize a newly discovered fungal species, Ijuhya vitellina, found parasitizing eggs of the cereal cyst nematode Heterodera filipjevi in wheat fields in Turkey. The study aimed to describe the fungus’s morphology, phylogenetic placement, parasitic behavior, and metabolite production.

Results

Ijuhya vitellina was identified as a new fungal species that forms distinctive reddish microsclerotia inside nematode eggs. The fungus penetrates eggs, colonizes their interior, and transforms into survival structures. Phylogenetic analysis placed it within the genus Ijuhya. The fungus produces chaetoglobosin A and its derivative 19-O-acetylchaetoglobosin A, compounds with nematode-inhibiting properties. These compounds temporarily immobilized nematodes in bioassays.

Conclusion

Ijuhya vitellina represents a new species with a unique mode of parasitism on nematode eggs, forming microsclerotia as survival structures inside the eggs. It is the first Ijuhya species known to parasitize nematodes and the only one producing chaetoglobosins. The fungus’s ability to survive inside nematode cysts and produce nematode-inhibiting compounds suggests potential for biological control of cyst nematodes.
  • Published in:PLOS One,
  • Study Type:Original Research,
  • Source: 10.1371/journal.pone.0180032
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