Research Topic: chemical signaling

Phytohormones and volatile organic compounds, like geosmin, in the ectomycorrhiza of Tricholoma vaccinum and Norway spruce (Picea abies)

This research examines how a fungus (Tricholoma vaccinum) and spruce tree communicate through chemical signals. The fungus produces unique compounds including geosmin (the earthy smell of soil after rain), limonene (lemon scent), and plant hormones. These chemicals help the fungus and tree establish their beneficial partnership by affecting how the fungus grows and branches around the tree roots. The findings show that these chemical signals are crucial for successful formation of the mycorrhizal relationship.

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Plants, fungi, and antifungals: A little less talk, a little more action

Researchers propose looking at how plants communicate with fungi to discover new antifungal medicines. Plants send chemical signals to fungi, and understanding these signals could help us develop better treatments for fungal infections in humans and crops. By studying a simple yeast model, scientists found that plant molecules called strigolactones control fungal phosphate metabolism, suggesting they could become new drug targets.

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Plants, fungi, and antifungals: A little less talk, a little more action

Plants and fungi communicate through small chemical molecules, and scientists are discovering that understanding this dialogue could lead to new antifungal medicines. Researchers found that a plant hormone called strigolactone affects a specific fungal protein involved in nutrient uptake, suggesting this could be a target for new drugs. By using baker’s yeast as a laboratory model, scientists can study how fungal cells respond to plant chemicals and identify new ways to fight dangerous fungal infections that are becoming resistant to current treatments.

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