fungal genetics – Page 2

The serine palmitoyl transferase of plant pathogenic fungi: a promising new target for the development of novel crop protection solutions

mycolabadmin

Scientists have discovered a new type of fungicide called pyridazine carboxamides that effectively kill plant-damaging fungi by blocking a key enzyme involved in their cell membrane formation. These compounds work against many common crop diseases like gray mold and leaf spots, though they are less effective against certain wheat pathogens. The research validates this new approach as a promising tool for protecting crops and managing fungicide resistance while maintaining global food security.

Saprotrophic Arachnopeziza Species as New Resources to Study the Obligate Biotrophic Lifestyle of Powdery Mildew Fungi

mycolabadmin

Scientists have created a new way to study powdery mildew fungus, which causes widespread plant disease but cannot normally be studied in the laboratory. They identified a related fungus species (Arachnopeziza) that can grow in culture and can be genetically modified. By sequencing the DNA of these two Arachnopeziza species and developing methods to alter their genes, researchers have created a practical tool to understand how powdery mildew becomes dependent on its plant host, potentially leading to better disease control strategies.

Exploring Mitochondrial Heterogeneity and Evolutionary Dynamics in Thelephora ganbajun through Population Genomics

mycolabadmin

Scientists studied the mitochondrial DNA of an edible mushroom species found only in Yunnan, China, called Thelephora ganbajun. They discovered that these mushrooms have unusual genetic diversity in their mitochondria, with multiple different versions of certain genes coexisting within individual organisms. This genetic flexibility appears to be an adaptation that helps the species survive in diverse environmental conditions and prevents the accumulation of harmful mutations.

You Are What You Eat: How Fungal Adaptation Can Be Leveraged toward Myco-Material Properties

mycolabadmin

Fungi can be grown to create eco-friendly materials that could replace plastics and petroleum-based products. By controlling what fungi eat and where they grow, scientists can engineer the properties of these materials to be stronger, more flexible, or water-resistant. This approach leverages the natural ability of fungi to break down organic matter and adapt to their environment. Companies like IKEA and Dell are already using these fungal materials in product packaging.

Protoplast-mediated transformation of Madurella mycetomatis using hygromycin resistance as a selection marker

mycolabadmin

Scientists have successfully developed a genetic engineering method for Madurella mycetomatis, the fungus that causes mycetoma, a serious tropical disease. They used a technique to remove the fungal cell wall and insert genes into the cells, creating strains that produce green fluorescent protein (GFP). This breakthrough enables researchers to better understand how this fungus causes disease and to develop new treatments.

Argonaute1-Dependent LtmilR2 Negatively Regulated Infection of Lasiodiplodia theobromae by Targeting a Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factor in RAS Signalling

mycolabadmin

Scientists discovered a small RNA molecule called LtmilR2 in a fungus that causes grape canker disease. This molecule naturally suppresses the fungus’s ability to infect grapes. By delivering this molecule or similar RNA duplexes to the fungus, researchers were able to inhibit its growth and infection, suggesting a new type of biological fungicide that could protect vineyards without chemical pesticides.

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

mycolabadmin

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.

Structural and Functional Analysis of Peptides Derived from KEX2-Processed Repeat Proteins in Agaricomycetes Using Reverse Genetics and Peptidomics

mycolabadmin

Scientists studied special proteins in mushrooms that get cut up into small functional peptides by fungal enzymes. They created a method to find and identify these peptides in mushroom fruiting bodies and growth materials. When they removed the enzymes that cut these proteins, the mushrooms had problems growing and forming fruiting bodies, suggesting these enzymes are important for normal development.

Genetic Ablation of the Conidiogenesis Regulator Enhances Mycoprotein Production

mycolabadmin

Scientists created a genetically modified version of the Quorn fungus (Fusarium venenatum) by removing a gene that controls spore production. This modification caused the fungus to grow faster and produce more biomass while also containing higher levels of amino acids. When combined with another genetic modification, the fungus produced 22% more biomass than normal, which could significantly reduce costs for mycoprotein production used in meat alternative products.

MoMad2 With a Conserved Function in the Spindle Assembly Checkpoint Is Required for Maintaining Appressorial Turgor Pressure and Pathogenicity of Rice Blast Fungus

mycolabadmin

Rice blast fungus causes significant crop damage worldwide. This research reveals that a protein called MoMad2 helps the fungus control its cell division timing and maintains pressure in specialized infection structures called appressoria, which are needed to penetrate rice leaves. When scientists removed the MoMad2 gene, the fungus became less effective at infecting rice plants, suggesting this protein could be a target for developing new disease control strategies.

Research Keyword: fungal genetics