stress tolerance – mycolab.ai

Key sugar transporters drive development and pathogenicity in Aspergillus flavus

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Researchers studied how Aspergillus flavus fungus transports sugars, which is crucial for its growth, producing the toxic aflatoxin that contaminates crops like corn and peanuts. By removing genes responsible for sugar transport, they found that the fungus became weak, couldn’t infect plants or animals effectively, and stopped producing the dangerous aflatoxin. This discovery could help develop new strategies to prevent aflatoxin contamination in food and reduce serious fungal infections in humans.

Genome-wide identification of PSKR genes in wheat and differential expression under abiotic stress conditions

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Scientists identified 149 genes related to phytosulfokine receptors (PSKR) in wheat that help plants respond to environmental stresses like drought, salt, cold, and heat. These genes are spread across wheat’s chromosomes and contain regulatory elements that control their expression in response to various stresses and plant hormones. The study provides important genetic resources for developing wheat varieties that are more resistant to environmental stress, which is crucial for maintaining crop productivity in changing climate conditions.

Emerging Role of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi in Sustainable Agriculture: From Biology to Field Application

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Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi are microscopic fungi that naturally partner with plant roots to help them grow stronger and healthier. These fungi can improve crop productivity without chemical fertilizers by helping plants absorb water and nutrients, resist drought and salty soils, and fight off diseases. Scientists are now developing commercial products containing these beneficial fungi to help farmers grow crops more sustainably and organically.

CBC Complex Regulates Hyphal Growth, Sclerotial Quantity, and Pathogenicity in the Necrotrophic Fungus Botrytis cinerea

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Scientists studied how two proteins (BcCbp20 and BcCbp80) work together in gray mold fungus, which destroys crops worldwide. These proteins control how the fungus grows, makes spores, forms long-term survival structures, and causes disease. The findings show that BcCbp80 is more important for growth and infection, while BcCbp20 helps the fungus survive stress. Understanding these proteins could help develop new antifungal treatments.

Development and Transfer of Microbial Agrobiotechnologies in Contrasting Agrosystems: Experience of Kazakhstan and China

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Microbial consortia—communities of beneficial microorganisms—offer promising solutions to modern agriculture’s challenges by enhancing plant growth, improving stress tolerance, and restoring soil health. China has successfully integrated these microbial products into farming through strong government support and research infrastructure, while Kazakhstan has the scientific knowledge but faces funding and implementation challenges. This comparative study shows that adopting these technologies requires both scientific advancement and practical support systems tailored to each country’s specific needs.

A mycovirus enhances fitness of an insect pathogenic fungus and potentially modulates virulence through interactions between viral and host proteins

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Scientists discovered a virus that infects a beneficial fungus used to control insect pests. Instead of harming the fungus, this virus makes it much better at its job by doubling spore production, helping it survive harsh conditions like UV radiation and heat, and making it more deadly to target insects. The improvement comes from specific interactions between viral and fungal proteins that work together to enhance the fungus’s natural pest-killing abilities.

Microsclerotia formation of the biocontrol fungus Cordyceps javanica IF-1106 and evaluation of its stress tolerance and pathogenicity

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Researchers studied a fungus called Cordyceps javanica that can be used to control harmful soil nematodes that damage crop roots. The fungus produces special dormant structures called microsclerotia that can survive extreme heat and UV radiation for extended periods. These microsclerotia showed excellent effectiveness at controlling root-knot nematodes on cucumber plants while also promoting plant growth, making them a promising natural alternative to chemical pesticides.

Plant–Fungi Mutualism, Alternative Splicing, and Defense Responses: Balancing Symbiosis and Immunity

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Fungi form beneficial partnerships with plant roots, helping plants absorb nutrients and resist stress. A key process called alternative splicing allows cells to make different versions of proteins from the same genes, fine-tuning how plants and fungi cooperate. This review explains how alternative splicing acts like a molecular switch that balances the plant’s immune system with accepting the beneficial fungus, and how understanding this could help farmers grow healthier crops with less chemical fertilizers.

Aspergillus fumigatus dsRNA virus promotes fungal fitness and pathogenicity in the mammalian host

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A virus that infects the fungus Aspergillus fumigatus makes the fungus more dangerous by helping it survive stress and resist immune cell attack. When researchers removed the virus from the fungus, it became weaker and less harmful to infected mice. Treating infected mice with an antiviral drug called ribavirin reduced the virus, lowering fungal burden and improving survival, suggesting that targeting fungal viruses could be a new way to treat serious fungal infections.

Diversity and Ecology of Fungi from Underexplored and Extreme Environments

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This editorial introduces a special issue on fungi that survive in harsh environments like deserts, salty water, polar regions, and polluted sites. Scientists are discovering that these remarkable fungi can help clean up contaminated soil, support plant growth under stress, and may have pharmaceutical uses. The research brings together classical mycology with modern genetic techniques to unlock the untapped potential of these extreme-environment fungi.

Research Keyword: stress tolerance