Anti-Therapeutic Action: Fungal pathogenicity

Chalkbrood Disease Caused by Ascosphaera apis in Honey Bees (Apis mellifera)—Morphological and Histological Changes in Infected Larvae

Chalkbrood is a serious fungal disease that kills honeybee larvae, caused by the fungus Ascosphaera apis. This study examined exactly how the infection progresses by infecting larvae in controlled laboratory conditions and observing them over time under a microscope. The researchers found that once infected, larvae die very quickly within 3-7 days as the fungus spreads throughout their bodies, and the fungus continues to grow even after the larvae are dead, eventually forming visible spores on the dead larvae that spread the disease to other bees in the colony.

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Study on Pathogenesis of Cytospora pyri in Korla Fragrant Pear Trees (Pyrus sinkiangensis)

Researchers identified Cytospora pyri as the fungus causing a serious canker disease in Korla fragrant pear trees grown in Xinjiang, China. The fungus cannot directly infect healthy bark but requires wounds to enter trees, then spreads rapidly through tissues using powerful cell-degrading enzymes. Understanding these infection mechanisms can help farmers prevent the disease by protecting trees from injuries and maintaining tree health.

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Controlled inoculation provides insight into western redcedar resistance to multiple root- and butt-rot pathogens

Western redcedar is an economically important tree species suffering from fungal diseases that cause wood decay and significant financial losses. Researchers developed controlled methods to test how resistant young redcedar trees are to eight different decay fungi, finding that some fungi are much more damaging than others. Importantly, they discovered that some infections remain hidden without visible symptoms but still harm tree growth, and these hidden infections can be detected using advanced DNA-based methods. This research will help forest managers and breeders develop redcedar varieties with better disease resistance.

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