therapeutic action: nematicidal activity

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

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.

Read More »

Harnessing Walnut-Based Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles: A Sustainable Approach to Combat the Disease Complex of Meloidogyne arenaria and Macrophomina phaseolina in Cowpea

Researchers created tiny particles made from walnut leaves and zinc oxide that can fight harmful plant diseases caused by root-knot nematodes and fungal infections in cowpea plants. When applied to diseased plants, these natural nanoparticles significantly reduced pest populations, improved plant growth and health, and helped plants recover from stress without harming beneficial bacteria in the soil. This green technology offers farmers an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional chemical pesticides.

Read More »

Genomic characterization and fermentation study of the endophyte Stemphylium sp. (Aa22), a producer of bioactive alkyl-resorcinols

Scientists have studied a beneficial fungus called Stemphylium sp. Aa22 that lives inside wormwood plants and produces natural insect-repelling compounds called alkyl-resorcinols. By reading the complete genetic code of this fungus, researchers identified the gene responsible for making these compounds and found that growing the fungus in liquid culture produces more of the desired compounds than growing it on solid rice. This research could lead to developing natural, environmentally-friendly pesticides to protect crops from aphids and other pests.

Read More »

Advanced fermentation techniques enhance dioxolanone type biopesticide production from Phyllosticta capitalensis

Researchers discovered that special fermentation techniques can significantly boost the production of natural pesticides from a beneficial fungus called Phyllosticta capitalensis. By using materials like glass wool during fermentation, they increased the production of specific bioactive compounds. The resulting extracts showed excellent effectiveness against garden pests like aphids and harmful nematodes, offering a natural alternative to synthetic pesticides for sustainable agriculture.

Read More »

Revealing the metabolic potential and environmental adaptation of nematophagous fungus, Purpureocillium lilacinum, derived from hadal sediment

Scientists discovered a special fungus living in the deepest part of the ocean (Mariana Trench) that can survive extreme pressure and produce compounds with disease-fighting properties. This fungus, Purpureocillium lilacinum, showed promise against bacteria, cancer cells, and parasitic worms. The research revealed how this fungus adapts to survive in one of Earth’s most extreme environments, potentially opening new sources for developing medicines and biological pest control.

Read More »

Fungal-derived ZnO nanoparticles functionalized with riboflavin and UDP-GlcNAc exhibit potent nematicidal activity against M. incognita

Scientists used a nematode-trapping fungus to create tiny zinc oxide particles that are highly toxic to root-knot nematodes, which damage crops worldwide. These nanoparticles are naturally coated with beneficial fungal compounds like riboflavin that enhance their pest-killing ability. The particles killed over 94% of nematodes in laboratory tests, offering a greener alternative to harsh chemical pesticides currently used in farming.

Read More »

Genome annotation of Aspergillus melleus strain CBS 546.65

Scientists have created a detailed functional map of the Aspergillus melleus fungal genome, identifying over 12,000 genes and 102 biosynthetic gene clusters. This fungus is valuable because it produces compounds with insecticidal, nematicidal, and antibiotic properties, as well as proteases used in health supplements. The annotation provides a roadmap for understanding how this fungus makes these useful compounds and could help optimize its industrial applications.

Read More »

Saponins, the Unexplored Secondary Metabolites in Plant Defense: Opportunities in Integrated Pest Management

Plants naturally produce compounds called saponins that protect them from insects, fungi, bacteria, parasitic worms, and viruses. This review explains how saponins work as natural pest managers and discusses how plants rich in saponins, such as licorice and soapbark trees, could be used to develop environmentally friendly crop protection products instead of synthetic pesticides.

Read More »

Genomic characterization and fermentation study of the endophyte Stemphylium sp. (Aa22), a producer of bioactive alkyl-resorcinols

Scientists sequenced the complete genome of a fungus called Stemphylium sp. (strain Aa22) that lives inside wormwood plants without harming them. This fungus produces natural compounds called alkyl-resorcinols that can repel aphids and kill plant-damaging nematodes, making them potentially useful as organic pesticides. The researchers found the genetic instructions for making these compounds and determined that growing the fungus in liquid culture produces more of the useful compounds than growing it on rice, offering a promising path toward developing these natural biopesticides on a larger scale.

Read More »

A carnivorous mushroom paralyzes and kills nematodes via a volatile ketone

Scientists discovered that oyster mushrooms kill parasitic worms using a toxic gas stored in tiny bulb-shaped structures called toxocysts. The toxin is a common chemical called 3-octanone that ruptures the worms’ cell membranes, causing calcium to flood into cells and leading to rapid paralysis and death. This ‘nerve gas in a lollipop’ strategy could inspire new ways to control parasitic worms in agriculture and medicine.

Read More »
Scroll to Top