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.
Plant peptides are small signaling molecules that help plants defend themselves against diseases and pests. These peptides can work by directly killing pathogens or by activating the plant’s immune system. Researchers have identified over 1000 different plant peptides, and this review explains how they work and how they could be used to create disease-resistant crops and natural biopesticides.
This research explores how beneficial microbes like Trichoderma fungi and Bacillus bacteria can help plants naturally defend themselves against diseases. These microbes trigger the plant’s built-in immune system through chemical signals and molecular processes similar to how our immune system responds to threats. The approach offers an eco-friendly alternative to chemical pesticides for protecting crops, though effectiveness varies depending on environmental conditions.
Researchers created a computer program called HitList that searches fungal DNA to find new targets for antifungal medications. The program identified 16 promising protein targets that could be attacked by new antifungal drugs, including 8 completely new targets never before considered. This discovery could help develop new antifungal treatments to fight drug-resistant fungal infections in both humans and crops.
Scientists created synthetic versions of protective compounds found in brown seaweed that could potentially be used as natural fungicides. They designed and synthesized fifteen different chemical derivatives and tested them against harmful plant fungi that damage crops. While the chemically modified versions showed modest effectiveness at stopping fungal growth, the naturally occurring compounds had little effect, suggesting that chemical alterations play an important role in fighting crop diseases.
Researchers synthesized compounds inspired by naturally occurring substances found in brown algae called phlorotannins. These synthetic compounds were tested against fungi that damage rice crops and other plants. Some methylated versions showed promise in slowing fungal growth, suggesting they could potentially be developed into new natural fungicides. However, the compounds were not effective against bacteria, indicating more research is needed.
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.
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.
Scientists developed a computer program called HitList that searches through fungal genes to find new targets for antifungal medicines. The program identifies proteins that are unique to harmful fungi and missing from humans and plants, making them ideal drug targets. The study found several promising new protein targets that could lead to development of more effective antifungal drugs to treat both human fungal infections and crop diseases caused by fungi.