disease resistance enhancement

Decursin, Identified via High-Throughput Chemical Screening, Enhances Plant Disease Resistance via Two Independent Mechanisms

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Researchers identified a natural compound called decursin from angelica plants that helps plants fight off dangerous fungal infections in two ways: it strengthens the plant’s own immune system and directly kills the fungal pathogens. This dual-action approach makes decursin a promising natural alternative to synthetic fungicides for protecting crops like wheat and tomatoes from diseases. The compound shows particular promise because it comes from plants, breaks down easily in the environment, and is more effective than other natural antimicrobial compounds currently used in agriculture.

Harnessing mushrooms for poultry nutrition: Boosting health, immunity, and productivity

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Mushrooms and mushroom stems are emerging as natural feed additives that can significantly improve poultry health, growth, and egg/meat quality while reducing the need for antibiotics. These fungi contain beneficial compounds that boost immune function, reduce harmful bacteria, and protect against cellular damage. By using mushroom byproducts that are typically discarded, farmers can create more sustainable and environmentally friendly poultry production systems while improving overall bird health and productivity.

A tale for two roles: Root-secreted methyl ferulate inhibits P. nicotianae and enriches the rhizosphere Bacillus against black shank disease in tobacco

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Tobacco plants release a natural chemical called methyl ferulate from their roots that has a powerful two-pronged defense against a devastating soil disease called black shank. First, the methyl ferulate directly kills the fungus by disrupting its energy production. Second, it attracts beneficial bacteria called Bacillus to the soil around the roots, which further fight the disease. Scientists found they could boost this defense by engineering a tobacco gene that produces more methyl ferulate, making plants much more resistant to infection. This discovery offers farmers an affordable, natural way to control soil diseases without synthetic chemicals.

Rice varietal intercropping mediates resistance to rice blast (Magnaporthe oryzae) through core root exudates

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Growing different varieties of rice together can help protect susceptible rice plants from blast disease. When resistant and susceptible rice varieties are planted together, the resistant plants release special chemicals from their roots that help the susceptible plants fight off the fungal disease. Scientists identified four key chemicals—azelaic acid, sebacic acid, betaine, and phenyl acetate—that work together to boost the immune system of susceptible rice plants and directly kill the blast fungus.

The Application of Fungi and Their Secondary Metabolites in Aquaculture

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Fungi can help solve several problems in fish farming. They can make plant-based fish feed more nutritious and easier to digest, boost fish immune systems and disease resistance without antibiotics, help fish feed float better in water, and clean up polluted water from fish farms. This makes aquaculture more sustainable and environmentally friendly while reducing costs for farmers.

Characterization of Two Potential Biocontrol Bacillus Strains Against Maize Stalk Rot

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Scientists discovered two beneficial bacteria, Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus siamensis, that can protect maize plants from a serious fungal disease called stalk rot. These bacteria work in two ways: they directly kill the fungus and they promote healthy plant growth. By analyzing the bacteria’s genetic makeup, researchers found that they produce multiple natural antibiotic compounds that explain their powerful disease-fighting abilities. This research suggests these bacteria could be used as a natural, environmentally-friendly alternative to chemical fungicides for protecting crops.

Recent Advances and Developments in Bacterial Endophyte Identification and Application: A 20-Year Landscape Review

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Bacterial endophytes are beneficial bacteria living inside plants that help them grow stronger, resist diseases, and even clean up polluted soil. Scientists have studied these helpful microbes for 20 years and discovered they can be identified using both traditional laboratory methods and advanced DNA technologies. These bacteria show promise for making farming more sustainable by reducing the need for chemical pesticides and helping crops survive droughts and other stressors.

Early changes in microRNA expression in Arabidopsis plants infected with the fungal pathogen Fusarium graminearum

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Researchers studied how Arabidopsis plants respond to infection by the fungus Fusarium graminearum by examining changes in small RNA molecules called microRNAs. They found that the plant activates specific microRNAs early in infection, even before visible disease symptoms appear. Two particularly important microRNAs, miR855 and miR826a, were identified as potential key regulators of the plant’s defense response. These findings could help scientists develop crop varieties with improved resistance to fungal diseases that cause significant agricultural losses worldwide.

Terpinen-4-ol triggers autophagy activation and metacaspase-dependent apoptosis against Botrytis cinerea

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Terpinen-4-ol, a natural compound from tea tree oil, effectively kills gray mold fungus that spoils fruits and vegetables after harvest. The compound works by damaging fungal cell membranes, creating harmful reactive molecules inside fungal cells, and triggering the fungal cells’ self-destruction pathways. When tested on tomatoes and strawberries, terpinen-4-ol successfully reduced mold growth and disease spread, suggesting it could be a safe, eco-friendly alternative to chemical fungicides for protecting fresh produce.

Insights into microbiome-triterpenoid correlation in Poria cocos via comparative analysis of sclerotial and soil microenvironments

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Researchers discovered that the medicinal fungus Poria cocos creates its own specialized microbial environment in its underground structure that is closely linked to the production of pachymic acid, a compound with anti-cancer and immune-boosting properties. By comparing the microbes living in the fungus versus surrounding soil, they found specific beneficial bacteria and fungi that thrive in the fungus but are rare in soil. This discovery could help improve cultivation techniques to produce higher quality medicinal fungi with more therapeutic compounds.

therapeutic action: disease resistance enhancement