fungal disease management

Enhancement of Mycelial Growth and Antifungal Activity by Combining Fermentation Optimization and Genetic Engineering in Streptomyces pratensis S10

mycolabadmin

Scientists improved a soil bacterium called Streptomyces pratensis S10 that fights a serious wheat disease called Fusarium head blight. They used two strategies: first, they optimized the growth medium using statistical methods to produce more bacteria with stronger antifungal powers, and second, they used genetic engineering to remove a gene that was limiting its disease-fighting ability. The result was a bacteria strain that is much more effective at controlling this crop disease.

Mycoviruses: Antagonistic Potential, Fungal Pathogenesis, and Their Interaction with Rhizoctonia solani

mycolabadmin

This comprehensive review explores how viruses that infect fungi, called mycoviruses, could help farmers control rice diseases. Rice sheath blight caused by the fungus Rhizoctonia solani causes significant crop losses worldwide. Scientists have discovered that certain mycoviruses can weaken this pathogenic fungus, making them promising biological alternatives to chemical fungicides that can harm the environment and encourage disease resistance.

Biocontrol of Cercospora leaf spot in sugar beet by a novel Bacillus velezensis KT27 strain: Enhanced antifungal activity and growth promotion in laboratory and field conditions

mycolabadmin

This research demonstrates that a beneficial bacteria called Bacillus velezensis KT27 can effectively control a common fungal disease in sugar beet crops. The bacteria fights the disease by producing natural antifungal compounds and can be further enhanced by exposure to inactivated fungal pathogens. Field trials showed the bacterial treatment provided disease protection almost as good as chemical fungicides while also promoting plant growth and increasing sugar beet yield by up to 15%.

Harnessing Walnut-Based Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles: A Sustainable Approach to Combat the Disease Complex of Meloidogyne arenaria and Macrophomina phaseolina in Cowpea

mycolabadmin

Researchers created tiny particles made from walnut leaves and zinc oxide that can fight harmful plant diseases caused by root-knot nematodes and fungal infections in cowpea plants. When applied to diseased plants, these natural nanoparticles significantly reduced pest populations, improved plant growth and health, and helped plants recover from stress without harming beneficial bacteria in the soil. This green technology offers farmers an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional chemical pesticides.

Revisiting the emerging pathosystem of rice sheath blight: deciphering the Rhizoctonia solani virulence, host range, and rice genotype-based resistance

mycolabadmin

Researchers studied a fungus that causes rice leaf disease in Egypt by isolating and testing different strains to understand why some were more damaging than others. They found the most aggressive strain produced more enzymes that break down plant cell walls, making it more harmful. The team also tested which rice varieties were naturally resistant to the disease and identified specific genes that could help breeders develop disease-resistant rice varieties without needing fungicide chemicals.

Synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles using Trichoderma harzianum and its bio-efficacy on Alternaria brassicae

mycolabadmin

Scientists have developed an eco-friendly way to create zinc oxide nanoparticles using a beneficial fungus called Trichoderma harzianum. These nanoparticles effectively kill Alternaria brassicae, a fungus that damages mustard crops and can reduce yields by up to 57%. The nanoparticles work better and at lower doses than traditional chemical fungicides, making them a promising sustainable solution for farmers. This represents an important advancement in protecting crops without harming the environment.

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

mycolabadmin

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.

Interference with sexual mating of Sporisorium scitamineum by verrucarin A isolated from Paramyrothecium sp

mycolabadmin

Scientists discovered a fungus from moss that produces a natural compound called verrucarin A, which stops sugarcane smut disease by preventing the sexual mating of its fungal spores. This prevents the disease from developing without harming the sugarcane plants. In greenhouse tests, this natural biocontrol agent reduced disease occurrence by nearly half compared to untreated plants, offering a safe alternative to chemical pesticides for protecting sugarcane crops.

Nano Emulsion of Essential Oils Loaded in Chitosan Coating for Controlling Anthracnose in Tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) During Storage

mycolabadmin

Researchers developed a natural coating made from chitosan (a biopolymer) and thyme essential oil nano particles to protect tomatoes from a fungal disease called anthracnose during storage. When applied to tomatoes, this coating reduced disease occurrence by 50%, outperforming the commercial fungicide currently used. This eco-friendly solution offers a sustainable alternative to synthetic chemical treatments while maintaining tomato quality for longer periods.

Abscisic Acid Metabolizing Rhodococcus sp. Counteracts Phytopathogenic Effects of Abscisic Acid Producing Botrytis sp. on Sunflower Seedlings

mycolabadmin

Scientists discovered that a beneficial soil bacterium can protect sunflower plants from a harmful fungus by eating the toxin the fungus produces. The fungus normally weakens plant defenses by producing a chemical called abscisic acid, but the bacterium metabolizes this chemical and prevents it from harming the plant. This approach works without the bacterium directly killing the fungus, offering a new way to protect crops from disease.

Research Keyword: fungal disease management