Myxobacteria are tiny soil organisms that can attack and destroy disease-causing fungi, bacteria, and water molds that harm plants. These bacteria produce natural enzymes and chemical compounds that break down pathogen cell walls and stop them from growing. This makes myxobacteria promising candidates for environmentally friendly pest control in farming.
This research demonstrates that a coating made from chitosan combined with tiny titanium dioxide particles effectively kills three types of mold that spoil mangoes after harvest. The composite coating works by breaking down the mold’s cell membranes and causing them to leak their contents, leading to cell death. This combination is more effective than chitosan alone, with some mold species being completely eliminated at optimal concentrations.
This research explores how two types of soil fungi interact with each other through chemical signals. When Trichoderma (a beneficial biocontrol fungus) encounters Laccaria bicolor (a helpful fungus that aids plant growth), they communicate through airborne volatile compounds and secreted chemicals. The study found that these fungi employ different strategies depending on how close they are to each other, changing their chemical production to either compete or coexist, which has implications for improving agricultural biocontrol applications.
Researchers sequenced the complete genome of a wild button mushroom strain (ARP23) that has been successfully bred with commercial mushrooms to create the ‘Heirloom’ variety. This strain is larger and contains more genes than other known button mushroom strains, making it valuable for breeding disease-resistant varieties. The genome sequence reveals that all button mushroom strains share core genes for breaking down plant material in compost, but have diverse collections of optional genes. This genetic resource provides a foundation for developing mushrooms more resistant to diseases and viruses.
Professor Emel Tümbay was a pioneering scientist who transformed medical mycology in Türkiye from 1941 to 2025. She established the country’s first diagnostic mycology laboratory, wrote important reference books, and trained many specialists who spread her knowledge throughout the nation. Her work helped doctors better understand and treat fungal diseases, and she is remembered as a dedicated educator and passionate scientist.
A newly discovered bacterium called Streptomyces luomodiensis SCA4-21 offers a natural solution to banana Fusarium wilt, a serious disease that destroys banana crops globally. When applied to banana plants, this beneficial bacterium reduced disease occurrence by 59% while also promoting healthier plant growth. The bacterium works by producing antifungal compounds that kill the disease-causing fungus and by enriching the soil with other helpful microorganisms that protect the plant.
Plants naturally produce compounds called saponins that protect them from insects, fungi, bacteria, parasitic worms, and viruses. This review explains how saponins work as natural pest managers and discusses how plants rich in saponins, such as licorice and soapbark trees, could be used to develop environmentally friendly crop protection products instead of synthetic pesticides.
When farmers grow Dictyophora rubrovalvata mushrooms in the same soil repeatedly, the soil becomes degraded and mushroom production fails. Scientists found that repeated cultivation changes the soil’s microbe populations, reducing beneficial bacteria while increasing harmful fungi, and toxic compounds accumulate that further damage mushroom growth. By understanding these mechanisms through DNA sequencing and chemical analysis, better strategies can be developed to maintain healthy soil for sustainable mushroom farming.
Researchers studied how the community of fungi in soil changes as morel mushrooms grow through different stages. They found that the diversity of soil fungi decreases once morels are planted, and dangerous fungi that cause diseases increase significantly as the fruiting bodies develop. This information can help farmers prevent diseases and improve morel production by managing soil fungal communities more effectively.