phytopathology – mycolab.ai

Essential Oil of Xylopia frutescens Controls Rice Sheath Blight Without Harming the Beneficial Biocontrol Agent Trichoderma asperellum

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Researchers discovered that oil extracted from leaves of a Brazilian plant called Xylopia frutescens effectively kills the fungus that causes rice sheath blight, a serious disease that can destroy rice crops. The oil contains two main compounds that work against the fungus and can be applied before or after infection to prevent or treat the disease. Importantly, the oil doesn’t harm beneficial fungi like Trichoderma asperellum that farmers use as natural pest control, making it an environmentally friendly alternative to chemical fungicides.

Antifungal activities of Rosmarinus extracts against Fusarium oxysporum, the pathogenic fungus of Anoectochilus stem rot

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Researchers found that extracts from rosemary plants can effectively fight a fungus that causes stem rot disease in Anoectochilus, a valuable medicinal herb. The rosemary extracts worked both in laboratory tests and when applied to infected plants, reducing disease symptoms and boosting the plant’s natural defense mechanisms. These findings suggest rosemary extracts could be developed as a natural, safer alternative to synthetic chemical fungicides that harm the environment.

Draft genome sequence data of Fusarium verticillioides strain REC01, a phytopathogen isolated from a Peruvian maize

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Researchers sequenced the genome of a fungus that causes rot disease in corn plants, specifically from samples found in Peru. The fungus produces toxins that harm both human and animal health and reduces crop yields. By analyzing the fungus’s genetic code and comparing it with other strains, scientists can better understand how it causes disease and develop better strategies to protect corn crops.

Extraction and Identification of the Bioactive Metabolites Produced by Curvularia inaequalis, an Endophytic Fungus Collected in Iran from Echium khuzistanicum Mozaff

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Researchers discovered a fungus living inside an Iranian medicinal plant that produces three natural compounds with powerful antimicrobial properties. The most promising compound, phomalactone, killed dangerous bacteria including MRSA and also prevented growth of fungal plant diseases. This discovery shows that exploring symbiotic fungi in medicinal plants could lead to new natural antibiotics and agricultural fungicides.

Influence of Light Spectrum on Bread Wheat Head Colonization by Fusarium graminearum and on the Accumulation of Its Secondary Metabolites

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Researchers studied how different colors of light affect a fungal disease in wheat and the toxic compounds it produces. They found that blue light reduces disease spread but increases toxin production, while red light also reduces disease but increases different types of toxins. This discovery could help farmers better manage wheat diseases by understanding how light conditions affect both the fungus and the grain’s safety.

Genome sequencing and analysis of isolates of Cytospora sorbicola and Cytospora plurivora associated with almond and peach canker

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This study provides genetic blueprints for two dangerous fungal pathogens that damage almond and peach orchards by causing canker diseases. Scientists sequenced the complete genomes of these fungi and identified genes responsible for their ability to infect plants, finding that they’ve evolved special abilities to survive in nutrient-poor bark tissue. This genetic information could help farmers develop fruit trees resistant to these infections. The research also clarifies the identity of a newly described fungal species, showing it’s actually the same as a previously known species.

Identification and biological characteristics of Fusarium tobaccum sp. nov., a novel species causing tobacco root rot in Jilin Province, China

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Scientists in China discovered a new type of fungus called Fusarium tobaccum that causes a serious disease in tobacco plants called root rot and wilt. By analyzing the fungus’s genetic material and physical characteristics, they confirmed it was a previously unknown species. The researchers also studied how this fungus grows under different conditions like temperature and soil pH to better understand how it causes disease.

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.

First Report of Trametes hirsuta, Causal Agent White Rot in Avocado Trees Grown in the State of Michoacán, México

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Researchers discovered a wood-destroying fungus called Trametes hirsuta causing serious disease in avocado trees in Mexico’s main avocado-growing region. The fungus attacks tree trunks and branches, causing white rot that can kill trees within 3-5 years. The study confirmed this is a new threat to avocado orchards and suggests controlling it through pruning, chemical fungicides, or biological control methods.

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.

Research Keyword: phytopathology