biocontrol – Page 10

Tracking of Tobacco Mosaic Virus in Taxonomically Different Plant Fungi

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Scientists discovered that tobacco mosaic virus can infect and replicate inside some fungal pathogens like Botrytis and Verticillium, which are major crop diseases. Interestingly, when viruses infect these fungi, the fungi activate their own defense mechanisms to fight the virus, yet still maintain their ability to cause disease in plants. This discovery opens new possibilities for using plant viruses as tools to study and potentially control harmful fungal pathogens on crops.

A Zn2-Cys6 transcription factor, TgZct4, reprograms antioxidant activity in the fungus Trichoderma guizhouense to defend against oxidative stress

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Trichoderma guizhouense is a fungus used to protect plants from harmful pathogens. Researchers discovered that a special protein called TgZct4 acts like a master switch that activates the fungus’s defense system against harmful reactive oxygen molecules. When the fungus encounters stress, TgZct4 turns on genes that produce protective enzymes called catalases and superoxide dismutases, helping the fungus survive. This discovery could help scientists create even more effective biological pest control products.

Strain and contact-dependent metabolomic reprogramming reveals distinct interaction strategies between Laccaria bicolor and Trichoderma

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Scientists studied how two types of soil fungi interact with each other when grown together in laboratory conditions. By analyzing the chemicals these fungi produce and release, they discovered that the fungi actively communicate and compete with each other in different ways depending on how close they are to each other. The findings show that both airborne chemicals and chemicals released into the soil play important roles in how fungi recognize friends from foes, which could help improve the use of beneficial fungi in agriculture.

In vitro and In silico investigation deciphering novel antifungal activity of endophyte Bacillus velezensis CBMB205 against Fusarium oxysporum

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Researchers isolated a beneficial bacteria called Bacillus velezensis from medicinal plants that can fight against a dangerous fungus causing banana wilt disease. Through laboratory and computer studies, they identified two natural compounds produced by this bacteria that stop the fungus from growing by damaging its cell walls. This discovery offers a promising eco-friendly alternative to chemical fungicides for protecting banana crops worldwide.

Inhibitory Effect and Mechanism of Dryocrassin ABBA Against Fusarium oxysporum

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Researchers found that dryocrassin ABBA, a compound from a traditional East Asian fern, can effectively kill the fungus that causes potato rot disease. The compound damages the fungus by increasing harmful reactive oxygen species and disrupting the fungus’s ability to break down plant cell walls. This natural substance could potentially replace synthetic chemical fungicides, offering a safer and more environmentally friendly way to protect potatoes from disease.

Antagonistic mechanism of Bacillus velezensis HX0039 as a biocontrol agent against Trichoderma virens-induced ‘Sanghuang’ green mold

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Scientists discovered a beneficial bacteria called Bacillus velezensis HX0039 that can protect ‘Sanghuang’ mushrooms from harmful green mold disease. This bacteria produces natural antifungal compounds like iturin A that stop the disease without harming the mushrooms or the environment. Testing showed it was 83% effective at preventing green mold and was completely safe for both mushroom cultivation and animal consumption, making it a promising alternative to chemical fungicides.

Beauveria felina Accelerates Growth When Competing With Other Potential Endophytes

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Scientists studied how Beauveria felina, a fungus used to fight crop pests, grows when competing with other fungi naturally found in plants. Surprisingly, B. felina grew faster when other fungi were present, making it an even stronger candidate for pest control. However, the researchers found complex interactions between the fungi that need more study before using B. felina widely in agriculture.

Exploring Fungal Communication Mechanisms in the Rhizosphere Microbiome for a Sustainable Green Agriculture

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Fungi in soil communicate with each other and plants through chemical signals, forming protective layers called biofilms that help them cooperate and survive. These fungal communication networks can be either beneficial, helping plants grow and fight diseases, or harmful, causing crop infections and producing toxins. By better understanding how fungi talk to each other, scientists can develop natural ways to improve agriculture and clean up polluted soils without using harmful chemicals.

Strain and contact-dependent metabolomic reprogramming reveals distinct interaction strategies between Laccaria bicolor and Trichoderma

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Scientists studied how two types of fungi interact when grown together in the laboratory. They found that different strains of Trichoderma fungi and beneficial mushroom fungi (Laccaria) communicate and compete using chemical signals that vary depending on how close they are to each other. When fungi are far apart, they use airborne chemicals, but when they touch directly, they change their chemical production dramatically. These findings could help improve the use of Trichoderma as biological pest control agents in agriculture.

Antifungal effect of soil Bacillus bacteria on pathogenic species of the fungal genera Aspergillus and Trichophyton

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Researchers discovered that four types of Bacillus bacteria found in soil can effectively kill dangerous fungi that cause infections in humans. These bacteria produce natural compounds that inhibit fungal growth even better than some standard antifungal medications. This discovery is particularly important because many fungi are becoming resistant to current drugs, making these soil bacteria a promising natural alternative for treating fungal infections.

Research Keyword: biocontrol