therapeutic action: stress tolerance

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

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.

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Draft genome sequences of five endophytic fungi isolated from Lactuca serriola, a wild relative of cultivated lettuce

Researchers sequenced the genomes of five fungal species found living inside wild lettuce plants collected in Arizona. These endophytic fungi can potentially improve the growth and disease resistance of cultivated lettuce. The study identified genetic clusters that produce compounds similar to known natural products, which could affect how these fungi interact with plants. This genomic information provides a foundation for future research into using these beneficial fungi as natural inoculants for improving lettuce crops.

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Exploring Fungal Communication Mechanisms in the Rhizosphere Microbiome for a Sustainable Green Agriculture

Fungi in soil communicate with each other and plants through chemical signals, forming protective layers called biofilms that help them cooperate and survive. These fungal communication networks can be either beneficial, helping plants grow and fight diseases, or harmful, causing crop infections and producing toxins. By better understanding how fungi talk to each other, scientists can develop natural ways to improve agriculture and clean up polluted soils without using harmful chemicals.

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Tolerance and antioxidant response to heavy metals are differentially activated in Trichoderma asperellum and Trichoderma longibrachiatum

This research examined how two types of fungi called Trichoderma respond to contamination from heavy metals like copper, lead, and chromium. The study found that one species (T. longibrachiatum) is better at surviving heavy metal exposure than the other. Both species activate defensive mechanisms to combat the toxic effects, including producing protective proteins and enzymes that neutralize harmful molecules called reactive oxygen species.

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Enhancing consistency in arbuscular mycorrhizal trait-based research to improve predictions of function

This review addresses how to better study fungal partners that help plants grow by proposing standardized methods to measure fungal characteristics. These fungi form beneficial partnerships with plant roots, improving nutrient uptake and soil health. By developing consistent measurement approaches and databases of fungal traits, scientists can better predict how these fungi affect plants and ecosystems.

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Review: roles of mycorrhizal symbioses and associated soil microbiomes in ecological restoration

This comprehensive review explains how underground fungal networks and soil microbes are essential for restoring damaged lands, particularly those contaminated by mining or pollution. The research shows that using native fungal communities from early successional stages, rather than introduced or late-stage species, significantly improves restoration success. Specific plant species like fescues work particularly well with these fungal partners, and combining different microbial species creates synergistic effects that boost plant growth and reduce contaminants in soil.

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Characterization of Endoglucanase (GH9) Gene Family in Tomato and Its Expression in Response to Rhizophagus irregularis and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum

This study examined how tomato plants regulate genes that break down and remodel cellulose in cell walls during interactions with beneficial fungi and harmful pathogens. Beneficial mycorrhizal fungi boost the expression of these genes, leading to larger leaves and better plant growth. When pathogens attack, these genes are turned down to strengthen the cell wall defense. This demonstrates how plants balance growth and defense depending on their microbial environment.

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The Zn(II)2-Cys6-type zinc finger protein AoKap7 is involved in the growth, oxidative stress and kojic acid synthesis in Aspergillus oryzae

Researchers studied a protein called AoKap7 in a fungus used to produce kojic acid, which is found in many cosmetic and food products. By deleting this protein gene, they found that fungi grew faster but produced much less kojic acid and were more sensitive to stress. The protein works as a master switch that controls both how fast the fungus grows and how much of the valuable kojic acid it makes.

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