Disease: Fusarium crown rot

Pest categorisation of Fusarium pseudograminearum

Fusarium pseudograminearum is a harmful fungus that infects cereal crops like wheat and barley, causing crown rot and head blight diseases that reduce crop yields and contaminate grain with toxic compounds. The fungus is already present in parts of southern Europe but is not widely distributed in the EU. Scientists evaluated whether this pathogen should be classified as a quarantine pest requiring strict import controls to prevent its spread across Europe.

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Algae and Cyanobacteria Fatty Acids and Bioactive Metabolites: Natural Antifungal Alternative Against Fusarium sp

This review examines how fatty acids and other compounds from algae and cyanobacteria can naturally fight Fusarium fungus, which damages crops like wheat, corn, and tomatoes. Traditional chemical fungicides harm the environment and can make fungi resistant, so scientists are exploring algae-based alternatives that work sustainably. The research shows these algal compounds can damage fungal cell membranes and boost plant defenses against infection. While promising, more work is needed to develop these natural solutions for practical farm use.

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Biology and Application of Chaetomium globosum as a Biocontrol Agent: Current Status and Future Prospects

Chaetomium globosum is a fungus that can protect crops from various plant diseases by producing toxic compounds and parasitizing harmful pathogens. It also helps plants defend themselves naturally and improves soil health by promoting beneficial microorganisms. This makes it a promising alternative to chemical pesticides for sustainable farming, though more research is needed to optimize its effectiveness in real field conditions.

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Automatic classification of fungal-fungal interactions using deep learning models

Researchers developed a computer artificial intelligence system that can automatically analyze images of fungal interactions to identify strains that could help control harmful crop diseases. Instead of having humans manually examine thousands of fungal culture plates—a slow and subjective process—the AI system can now classify the interactions between beneficial fungi and plant pathogens with 95% accuracy. This breakthrough significantly speeds up the search for natural alternatives to synthetic pesticides, supporting sustainable agriculture and food security.

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Biology and Application of Chaetomium globosum as a Biocontrol Agent: Current Status and Future Prospects

Chaetomium globosum is a common soil fungus that shows great potential for protecting crops from diseases and pests naturally. This review explains how it works—by producing toxic compounds against harmful fungi, directly attacking pathogens, and boosting plants’ own defense systems. When applied to seeds or soil, it has reduced crop diseases by up to 73% in field tests while also improving soil health and crop yields, making it a promising alternative to chemical fungicides.

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Automatic classification of fungal-fungal interactions using deep learning models

Researchers developed an artificial intelligence system that automatically analyzes images of fungi growing together to identify which ones can fight off disease-causing fungi. Instead of having humans manually look at thousands of plate images, which is time-consuming and subjective, their computer vision system can classify the outcomes with 95% accuracy. This automation tool could help scientists quickly find beneficial fungi that could replace chemical pesticides in agriculture, supporting the goal of sustainable and more environmentally friendly farming.

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Talaromyces pinophilus Strain HD25G2 as a Novel Biocontrol Agent of Fusarium culmorum, the Causal Agent of Root and Crown Rot of Soft Wheat

Researchers discovered that a fungus called Talaromyces pinophilus can fight against Fusarium culmorum, a harmful fungus that damages wheat crops and produces toxic compounds. The beneficial fungus works by producing natural enzymes that break down the walls of harmful fungal cells. Importantly, when applied before the harmful fungus appears, it completely prevents infection and toxin production, offering farmers a natural alternative to chemical pesticides.

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A Method to Inoculate Millet Grain-Colonized Fusarium pseudograminearum on Wheat to Obtain Reproducible Disease Symptoms

Scientists developed a standardized method to test wheat varieties for resistance to Fusarium crown rot, a serious fungal disease that damages wheat crops. The method uses millet grains colonized with the disease-causing fungus as inoculum, which is more reproducible and efficient than previous approaches. By testing this on wheat seedlings in controlled greenhouse conditions, researchers can quickly identify wheat varieties with natural resistance, which helps plant breeders develop better disease-resistant wheat crops.

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Talaromyces pinophilus Strain HD25G2 as a Novel Biocontrol Agent of Fusarium culmorum, the Causal Agent of Root and Crown Rot of Soft Wheat

A fungus called Talaromyces pinophilus shows promise as a natural pest controller against Fusarium culmorum, which damages wheat crops worldwide. When applied early to wheat seeds, this beneficial fungus produces enzymes that break down the harmful fungus’s cell walls, completely preventing damage and toxin contamination. However, timing is critical—if applied too late, it can paradoxically increase toxin production, suggesting it works best as a preventative treatment before infection occurs.

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Comprehensive analysis of the mechanisms conferring resistance to phenamacril in the Fusarium species

Fusarium fungi cause serious diseases in crops like wheat, rice, and vegetables worldwide, leading to significant food losses and contamination with harmful toxins. Phenamacril is a modern fungicide designed to fight these fungi by targeting a specific protein called myosin-5. However, the fungi have developed resistance to this fungicide through genetic changes and other mechanisms, making it less effective over time. Farmers need to use multiple strategies including crop rotation and resistant plant varieties rather than relying only on fungicides to successfully manage these diseases.

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