biological control – Page 4

Heterologous expression of the hypovirus CHV1-EP713 full-length cDNA in Botrytis cinerea: transformation with Agrobacterium tumefaciens and evaluation of changes in the fungal phenotype

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Researchers successfully introduced a virus from chestnut blight fungus into gray mold fungus to reduce its ability to cause disease. The transformed fungus grew slower, produced fewer spores, and caused less damage to plants. This discovery suggests viruses could be used as natural biological control agents to protect crops from fungal diseases.

An Overview of α-Pyrones as Phytotoxins Produced by Plant Pathogen Fungi

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This comprehensive review examines toxic compounds called α-pyrones that are produced by disease-causing fungi affecting crops and plants. These compounds act as natural poisons that help fungi damage plants, but interestingly, they also have potential medical uses including antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-cancer properties. Researchers have studied how the chemical structure of these compounds relates to their toxicity, which could help develop new herbicides for weed control and treatments for various diseases. The review covers dozens of these compounds and their applications in agriculture, medicine, and biotechnology.

Exploring fungal pathogens to control the plant invasive Rubus niveus on Galapagos Island San Cristobal

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Scientists in the Galapagos Islands are working to control an invasive raspberry plant that is damaging the unique ecosystem. They identified five types of fungi that naturally attack this invasive plant and could potentially be used as a biological control method. These fungi were isolated from diseased raspberry plants and tested in the laboratory, showing promise as a sustainable alternative to expensive manual removal and chemical herbicides.

Fungal-derived ZnO nanoparticles functionalized with riboflavin and UDP-GlcNAc exhibit potent nematicidal activity against M. incognita

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Scientists used a nematode-trapping fungus to create tiny zinc oxide particles that are highly toxic to root-knot nematodes, which damage crops worldwide. These nanoparticles are naturally coated with beneficial fungal compounds like riboflavin that enhance their pest-killing ability. The particles killed over 94% of nematodes in laboratory tests, offering a greener alternative to harsh chemical pesticides currently used in farming.

Epidemiology, Biotic Interactions and Biological Control of Armillarioids in the Northern Hemisphere

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This paper reviews how armillarioid fungi, particularly Armillaria species, cause root rot disease in forests and orchards across the Northern Hemisphere. These fungi spread through underground root-like structures called rhizomorphs and can kill trees and damage crops over large areas. The authors discuss how to identify these fungi using modern genetic methods and explore environmentally friendly biological control options using beneficial bacteria, fungi, and nematodes as alternatives to chemical treatments.

Exploring fungal pathogens to control the plant invasive Rubus niveus on Galapagos Island San Cristobal

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Hill raspberry is a highly invasive plant that has taken over approximately 30,000 hectares of the Galapagos Islands, threatening native plant species. Traditional control methods like manual removal and herbicide spraying are expensive and ineffective. Researchers identified five species of fungal pathogens that naturally occur on infected Hill raspberry plants and can cause disease on healthy plants, offering promise as biological control agents to suppress this invasive species.

UV-Induced Mutants of Metarhizium anisopliae: Improved Biological Parameters, Resistance to Stressful Factors, and Comparative Transcriptomic Analysis

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Scientists used UV light to create improved mutant strains of a fungus that naturally kills insect pests. The best mutant strain showed increased ability to survive harsh environmental conditions like heat and oxidative stress, while becoming more effective at infecting target pest insects. This improvement makes the fungus more practical for use as a natural pesticide in fields exposed to sunlight. Gene analysis revealed the mutant fungi enhanced certain protective proteins while reducing reliance on traditional antioxidant systems.

Effect of Rare, Locally Isolated Entomopathogenic Fungi on the Survival of Bactrocera oleae Pupae in Laboratory Soil Conditions

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Researchers tested seventeen types of fungi as natural pest control for the olive fruit fly, a major pest that damages olive crops in Greece. They found that several fungal species, especially Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus contaminans, were highly effective at killing fly pupae in soil conditions. These fungi could offer farmers an eco-friendly alternative to toxic chemical pesticides, helping improve olive oil quality while protecting beneficial insects.

Isolation and Biological Control of Colletotrichum sp. Causing Anthracnosis in Theobroma cacao L. in Chiapas, Mexico

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Cacao farmers in Mexico’s Chiapas region face serious crop losses from anthracnose, a fungal disease caused by Colletotrichum. Researchers found a beneficial bacterium called Paenibacillus sp. NMA1017 that can suppress this disease as effectively as commercial fungicide alternatives. By testing this natural biocontrol agent both in the laboratory and on actual cacao farms, they demonstrated it could reduce disease occurrence from 65% down to just 12-20%, offering farmers a sustainable alternative to chemical treatments.

Secretion of antifungal metabolites contributes to the antagonistic activity of Talaromyces oaxaquensis

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Researchers discovered that a fungus called Talaromyces oaxaquensis, found naturally in banana plants, produces powerful antifungal chemicals that kill the banana disease pathogen Fusarium oxysporum. The study identified specific compounds, particularly one called 15G256α, that damage the fungal cell wall of the pathogen. This discovery suggests a natural way to protect banana crops from a devastating disease that threatens global banana production.

Research Keyword: biological control