Research Keyword: effector genes

Genome analysis of Phytophthora cactorum strains associated with crown- and leather-rot in strawberry

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Strawberry farmers face two serious diseases caused by a water-mold pathogen: crown rot that kills the whole plant and leather rot that spoils the fruit. Scientists sequenced the DNA of different disease-causing strains to understand why some strains can infect only fruit while others destroy the entire plant. They found that highly virulent strains have specific genetic changes in genes that help the pathogen escape the plant’s immune system, which could help develop better disease control strategies.

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Accessory Chromosome Contributes to Virulence of Banana Infecting Fusarium oxysporum Tropical Race 4

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Scientists studied a dangerous fungal disease that destroys banana crops by examining a special extra chromosome found in the pathogen Fusarium oxysporum Tropical Race 4. They created mutant fungi without this chromosome and found that while the mutants could still grow normally in the lab, they became much less dangerous to banana plants. This discovery shows that this particular chromosome contains genes that help the fungus attack and infect bananas, suggesting potential new ways to combat this devastating crop disease.

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Accessory Chromosome Contributes to Virulence of Banana Infecting Fusarium oxysporum Tropical Race 4

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Fusarium wilt Tropical Race 4 is a devastating fungal disease that destroys banana crops worldwide, particularly the commercially important Cavendish variety. Researchers discovered that this fungus carries a special accessory chromosome that is not essential for basic fungal survival but is critical for its ability to infect and damage banana plants. By removing this chromosome in laboratory studies, scientists found that infected bananas suffered significantly less damage, suggesting that understanding this chromosome could lead to better strategies for protecting banana crops from this destructive disease.

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