plant disease – Page 5

Antifungal Activity of Genistein Against Phytopathogenic Fungi Valsa mali Through ROS-Mediated Lipid Peroxidation

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Scientists discovered that genistein, a natural compound found in soybeans and other legumes, can effectively kill the fungus that causes apple tree canker disease. The compound works by creating harmful reactive oxygen species that damage the fungus’s cell membranes and disrupt its normal cellular functions. This research suggests genistein could be developed as a safe, natural alternative to chemical fungicides for protecting apple crops.

Colletotrichum scovillei and Prospective Biocontrol Agents Isolated from Asymptomatic Olive Trees

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Researchers discovered that olive trees in Greece naturally harbor several species of fungi, including a newly identified disease-causing fungus called Colletotrichum scovillei. More importantly, they found that other fungi living harmlessly inside the olive tissue can protect the plant by fighting against the harmful fungi. Two of these protective fungi, KORD1f and KORD4f, reduced olive anthracnose disease symptoms by 67-73%, suggesting they could be used as natural alternatives to chemical fungicides for olive disease management.

Acremonium quercivorum (Hypocreales, Sordariomycetes), a New Species from Oak (Quercus spp.) Growing in Algeria

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Scientists discovered a new fungal species called Acremonium quercivorum found on declining oak trees in Algeria. This fungus was identified through a combination of microscopic examination and DNA analysis comparing it to related species. The discovery represents the first documented case of this particular Acremonium species associated with oak decline in Algeria and contributes to understanding fungal diversity in oak forest ecosystems.

Draft genome sequence of Neofusicoccum caryigenum associated with pecan leaf dieback

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Scientists have sequenced the complete genetic code of a fungus called Neofusicoccum caryigenum that causes pecan leaf dieback, a disease affecting pecan trees in the southeastern United States. The fungus was first identified in 2021 and causes leaves to fall off pecan trees, reducing crop yields. This genetic information will help researchers better understand the disease and develop ways to prevent or control it.

Twenty-nine new host records of powdery mildew fungi (Erysiphaceae) in Taiwan with an updated checklist

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Researchers updated Taiwan’s list of powdery mildew fungi, which are harmful plant pathogens affecting crops and trees worldwide. By collecting specimens from various locations and analyzing them using genetic sequencing and microscopy, they identified 29 new host-fungus combinations, with six Erysiphaceae species documented in Taiwan for the first time. The updated checklist now includes approximately 109 powdery mildew species known to affect 246 different host plant species across 75 plant families in Taiwan.

Gene transfer between fungal species triggers repeated coffee wilt disease outbreaks

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A new study reveals that coffee wilt disease, which has destroyed coffee crops across Africa, emerges repeatedly because of gene-swapping between different fungal species. Scientists discovered that large chunks of DNA called ‘Starships’ act like genetic delivery vehicles, transferring disease-causing genes from one fungus to another. This genetic exchange allows the pathogen to adapt and infect different coffee plant species, causing successive outbreaks. Understanding this mechanism could help protect global coffee production in the future.

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

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Researchers discovered that a beneficial soil bacterium (Rhodococcus sp.) can protect sunflower plants from a harmful fungus (Botrytis sp.) by breaking down a plant stress hormone (ABA) that the fungus produces to weaken plant defenses. Unlike other protection methods that kill the fungus or boost immune responses, this bacterium works by removing the fungus’s chemical weapon. This discovery suggests new ways to protect crops from diseases.

Research Keyword: plant disease

Antifungal Activity of Genistein Against Phytopathogenic Fungi Valsa mali Through ROS-Mediated Lipid Peroxidation

Colletotrichum scovillei and Prospective Biocontrol Agents Isolated from Asymptomatic Olive Trees

Acremonium quercivorum (Hypocreales, Sordariomycetes), a New Species from Oak (Quercus spp.) Growing in Algeria

Draft genome sequence of Neofusicoccum caryigenum associated with pecan leaf dieback

Twenty-nine new host records of powdery mildew fungi (Erysiphaceae) in Taiwan with an updated checklist

Gene transfer between fungal species triggers repeated coffee wilt disease outbreaks

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