disease resistance – Page 2

Histological Dissection of Fusarium-Banana Interaction Using a GFP-Tagged Subtropical Race 4 Strain of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense on Banana Cultivars with Differing Levels of Resistance

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Researchers used fluorescently-labeled fungal strains to visualize how banana wilt disease spreads inside banana plants. They found that resistant banana varieties can slow down the fungus by forming blockages (called tyloses) in their water-conducting vessels, though the fungus can still initially enter the plant. The study showed that the rhizome, an underground stem-like structure, is the key location where resistant plants successfully contain the fungus, which helps explain why some banana varieties are naturally more resistant to this devastating disease.

The Involvement of Glycerophospholipids in Susceptibility of Maize to Gibberella Root Rot Revealed by Comparative Metabolomics and Mass Spectrometry Imaging Joint Analysis

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Maize plants can suffer from a serious root disease called Gibberella root rot caused by a fungus. Researchers studied two types of maize—one resistant and one susceptible to this disease—and found that certain fatty compounds called lysophospholipids are more abundant in the susceptible plants. When these compounds build up, they damage plant cells and help the fungus spread. The resistant plants can break down these harmful compounds more effectively. This discovery could help plant breeders create maize varieties that resist this damaging disease.

Fungal Assemblages in Northern Elms—Impacts of Host Identity and Health, Growth Environment, and Presence of Dutch Elm Disease

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This study examined the different fungi living in elm tree shoots to understand why some elm species are more resistant to Dutch elm disease than others. Researchers found that healthy elms host fewer fungal species compared to diseased trees, and that fungal communities differ significantly between elm species and urban versus rural locations. Importantly, a fungus called Sphaeropsis ulmicola appears to be a significant emerging threat to elms in northern Europe, separate from the classic Dutch elm disease pathogen.

The Effect of Aspergillus flavus on Seedling Development in Maize

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Aspergillus flavus is a dangerous fungus that contaminates maize crops and produces toxic aflatoxins harmful to human and animal health. Researchers tested maize varieties to identify which are naturally resistant to this fungus using a simple laboratory method. They found significant differences in resistance among maize varieties and proposed a new evaluation system to help identify resistant varieties before they are sold to farmers, which could help reduce aflatoxin contamination in our food supply.

New wine in old skins: Scopoletin biosynthesis in cotton

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Cotton farmers face significant crop losses from a soil-dwelling fungus called Verticillium dahliae. Scientists discovered that cotton plants can protect themselves by producing a compound called scopoletin, which damages and kills this fungus. By understanding how cotton activates the genes that make scopoletin, researchers may be able to genetically engineer more disease-resistant cotton varieties, providing farmers with a sustainable alternative to chemical pesticides.

A rapid and efficient in vivo inoculation method for introducing tree stem canker pathogens onto leaves: suitable for large-scale assessment of resistance in poplar breeding progeny

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Researchers developed a faster, easier method to test whether poplar trees can resist stem canker diseases caused by fungi. Instead of using time-consuming tests on woody stems, they inoculated fungal pathogens directly onto leaves and measured disease symptoms after 5 days. This new leaf-based method works just as well as traditional methods but is much quicker and requires fewer resources, making it ideal for testing large numbers of hybrid poplar trees in breeding programs.

Endophytic Diversity in Sicilian Olive Trees: Identifying Optimal Conditions for a Functional Microbial Collection

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Researchers studied beneficial bacteria and fungi living inside olive trees from Sicily to create a collection of microorganisms that could improve olive farming. They found that wild olive trees and samples collected in winter had the most diverse and beneficial microbes, and that organic farming practices supported greater microbial diversity. Some of these microbes, especially Bacillus bacteria, showed promise in fighting fungal diseases and promoting plant growth, offering potential for developing natural fertilizers and disease control methods.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal networks—A climate-smart blueprint for agriculture

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Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi are beneficial organisms that form partnerships with plant roots to improve crop health and productivity without relying heavily on synthetic chemicals. These fungal networks enhance soil health, help plants survive droughts and diseases, improve nutrient absorption, and redistribute water through the soil. By using proper farming practices like crop diversification and fungal inoculants, farmers can harness these natural networks to increase yields while reducing fertilizer costs and environmental pollution.

Investigating the activity of Bacillus subtilis and Trichoderma harzianum to mitigate Fusarium wilt disease of diverse cultivars of Vicia faba

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Fava beans are damaged by a fungus called Fusarium that causes wilting and crop loss. Scientists tested two beneficial microorganisms—Trichoderma harzianum and Bacillus subtilis—as natural alternatives to chemical fungicides. Trichoderma worked better, reducing disease by over 70% while also boosting plant health and bean production in two different fava bean varieties.

Endophytic fungal community composition and function response to strawberry genotype and disease resistance

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Researchers studied fungi living inside three varieties of strawberry plants to understand why some varieties are more resistant to diseases. They found that disease-resistant strawberries like White Elves naturally harbor beneficial fungi such as Trichoderma and Talaromyces that fight off pathogens, while disease-susceptible varieties like Akihime have more harmful fungi. This discovery could help farmers grow healthier strawberries without relying solely on chemical pesticides by using natural beneficial fungi.

Research Keyword: disease resistance