Research Topic: plant hormones

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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Positive interaction between melatonin and methyl jasmonate enhances Fusarium wilt resistance in Citrullus lanatus

Researchers discovered that two natural plant signaling molecules, melatonin and methyl jasmonate, work together to protect watermelons from a devastating fungal disease called Fusarium wilt. When applied to watermelon plants at the right concentrations, these molecules trigger the plant’s natural defense mechanisms, making the plants more resistant to infection. The study shows these compounds can be used as natural, sustainable alternatives to chemical pesticides for protecting crops.

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Fungal symbiont Mycena complements impaired nitrogen utilization in Gastrodia elata and supplies indole-3-acetic acid to facilitate its seed germination

Gastrodia elata is a special orchid that cannot make its own food and must rely entirely on a fungal partner called Mycena. Scientists discovered that the orchid has lost genes needed to use nitrogen and make growth hormones, while the fungus Mycena has kept these genes. By providing nitrogen and a hormone called auxin, the fungus helps the orchid seeds germinate and grow.

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