Fungal biology最新文献

{"title":"Native Trichoderma strains from Brazilian biomes exhibit dual activity: biocontrol of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and growth promotion in common bean","authors":"Clarice Rossato Marchetti ,&nbsp;Carlos Eduardo Weirich ,&nbsp;Arthur Ladeira Macedo ,&nbsp;Leonardo França do Nascimento ,&nbsp;Paulo Victor Rocha Silva ,&nbsp;José Cirano Ulhoa ,&nbsp;Fabyano Álvares Carloso Lopes ,&nbsp;Denise Brentan da Silva ,&nbsp;Maria Rita Marques ,&nbsp;Edson dos Anjos dos Santos","doi":"10.1016/j.funbio.2026.101733","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.funbio.2026.101733","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Biological control using fungi of the <em>Trichoderma</em> genus has been gaining increasing prominence as a sustainable alternative to synthetic pesticides, particularly due to its ability to suppress phytopathogens and promote plant growth. While the beneficial role of <em>Trichoderma</em> species is well established, research involving native strains from Brazilian biomes remains limited. The present work comprised the investigation of 55 isolates of <em>Trichoderma</em> spp., isolated from the soil or endophytic from the plant species natives to the Pantanal and Cerrado of Mato Grosso do Sul (Brazil), regarding their capacity to inhibit the growth and spread of the phytopathogen <em>Sclerotinia sclerotiorum</em> (Lib.) de Bary. The results from confrontation assays (15.74–30.04 % growth of <em>S. sclerotiorum</em>), paired plate cultures (5.76–39.53 % growth of <em>S. sclerotiorum</em>), and cell wall-degrading enzyme (CWDEs) activity assays–whose activities ranged from 8.791 to 197.593 U mg⁻¹ for glucanase, 0.059–333.864 U mg⁻¹ for NAGase, 0.082–37.110 U mg⁻¹ for acid phosphatase, 1.234–45.716 U mg⁻¹ for chitinase, and 3.261–304.807 U mg⁻¹ for protease—were used to select <em>Trichoderma</em> spp. Five strains were selected: <em>Trichoderma</em> sp. T24, <em>Trichoderma zelobreve</em> T26, <em>Trichoderma longibrachiatum</em> T44, <em>T. zelobreve</em> T53, and <em>Trichoderma</em> sp. T55. Except for strain T44, all other strains demonstrated effectiveness in biological control of <em>S. sclerotiorum</em> (disease severity index ≤25 %) and plant growth promotion in <em>Phaseolus vulgaris</em> L. cultivation (vigor index ≥268). The volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced by five <em>Trichoderma</em> spp. strains post-exposure to <em>S. sclerotiorum</em> were analyzed by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS) were identified, among these VOCs with known antifungal activity, such as β-cedrene (6), β-funebrene (7), and α-acoradiene (12). <em>Trichoderma</em> sp. T24, <em>T. zelobreve</em> T53, and <em>Trichoderma</em> sp. T55 have potential as biocontrol agents against <em>S. sclerotiorum</em> and as biostimulants, increasing plant growth and development.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12683,"journal":{"name":"Fungal biology","volume":"130 2","pages":"Article 101733"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146074454","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Kordyana brasiliensis on the invasive weed Tradescantia fluminensis: ability of conidia to infect and the effect of temperature and wetness period on basidiospore germination","authors":"Isabel Zeil-Rolfe ,&nbsp;Ben Gooden ,&nbsp;Louise Morin ,&nbsp;Gavin C. Hunter ,&nbsp;Celeste C. Linde","doi":"10.1016/j.funbio.2026.101729","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.funbio.2026.101729","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Kordyana brasiliensis</em> is a pathogenic biotrophic fungus native to Brazil. It was deliberately released in New Zealand and Australia for the biological control of the invasive environmental weed <em>Tradescantia fluminensis</em>. The fungus produces two different spore types, basidiospores and asexual conidia, but the infection ability of conidia and the microclimatic variables that influence basidiospore germination processes are unknown. Results of controlled environment trials showed that conidia produced on either solid or liquid media were able to cause leaf lesions on <em>T. fluminensis</em> plants, but not when applied at the lowest suspension density tested (1 × 10⁴ conidia/ml) or when conidia were harvested from young (&lt;7 days) cultures. The successful infection of <em>T. fluminensis</em> plants inoculated with conidia (derived from a single basidiospore culture) and subsequent development of sexual structures in lesions indicate that <em>K. brasiliensis</em> is homothallic. The mechanism of infection, however, remains unclear because penetration of the host by thin hyphae produced by conidia on leaf surfaces was not observed in the samples examined by light microscopy. The influence of temperature and wetness period on basidiospore germination processes <em>in vitro</em> was investigated in a second set of experiments. Basidiospore germination and germ-tube elongation were significantly influenced by the interaction of both temperature and wetness period duration (optimal germination at 15–25 °C and germ-tube elongation at 20–22.5 °C). Extended wetness periods buffered the effects of suboptimal temperatures on basidiospore germination until the maximum threshold temperature of 30 °C was reached. Conidia formed on sterigmata-like outgrowths on basidiospore germ-tubes after exposure to extended wetness periods (&gt;18 h) and a relatively broad temperature range (15–25 °C). The potential role of conidia in the life cycle of the fungus is discussed. This is the first study of a <em>Kordyana</em> species to demonstrate the ability of conidia to cause infection on its host and investigate the influence of microclimate variables on basidiospore germination processes. Results of this study can be used as a basis for future research to examine the life cycle, mating system genetic basis and epidemiology of <em>K. brasiliensis</em>.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12683,"journal":{"name":"Fungal biology","volume":"130 2","pages":"Article 101729"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146024038","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Enzyme and biosurfactant production as strategy for bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate degradation by Fusarium culmorum: Metabolic pathway proposal using quantum chemical investigation","authors":"Brenda Hernández-Sánchez ,&nbsp;Ericka Santacruz-Juárez ,&nbsp;Francisco Figueroa-Martínez ,&nbsp;Manuel González-Pérez ,&nbsp;Angel González-Márquez ,&nbsp;Dolores Castañeda-Antonio ,&nbsp;Roberto Portillo-Reyes ,&nbsp;Gustavo Viniegra-González ,&nbsp;Carmen Sánchez","doi":"10.1016/j.funbio.2026.101719","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.funbio.2026.101719","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate is a globally used plastic additive that can exhibit toxic effects on environmental and human health. In this study, <em>Fusarium culmorum</em> was grown on BEHP (3000 mg/L), used as a sole carbon source, in liquid fermentation. A glucose medium was used as a control. Growth kinetics, protein content, and esterase activity were determined. BEHP biodegradation compounds were detected through GC–MS, and a metabolic pathway was proposed using quantum chemical modeling to predict the stability of the generated products. <em>F. culmorum</em> had a μ value 1.6-fold more in the control medium (0.032 h⁻¹) than in the BEHP-supplemented medium (0.02 h⁻¹). The maximum volumetric esterase activity was 63-fold more in the BEHP-supplemented cultures (6007.5 U/L) than that in the control cultures (95.7 U/L). Five (28.4, 34.5, 47.9, 84, and 178.2 kDa approx.) and two (33 and 49.5 kDa approx.) esterase isoenzymes were detected in BEHP-supplemented and in the control cultures, respectively, indicating that the BEHP supplementation significantly induced esterase production. The GC–MS revealed that <em>F. culmorum</em> degraded BEHP and synthesized compounds, including oleic acid, lauric acid, palmitic acid, and palmitoleic acid, that can be converted into natural surfactants, which make the substrate bioavailable (through micelles formation) for uptake and metabolism. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study suggesting a microorganism-mediated degradation of a plasticizer (i.e. phthalate ester) associated with a concomitant natural surfactant production.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12683,"journal":{"name":"Fungal biology","volume":"130 2","pages":"Article 101719"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145975326","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Culturable fungal diversity and description of four novel taxa from allochthonous wood in Portuguese marine and estuarine environments","authors":"Alberto C. Abreu,&nbsp;Micael F.M. Gonçalves,&nbsp;Ana C. Esteves,&nbsp;Artur Alves","doi":"10.1016/j.funbio.2026.101718","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.funbio.2026.101718","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Lignicolous marine fungi are adapted to colonize wood in marine and estuarine environments, where their lignocellulolytic activity plays a key role in nutrient cycling and organic matter decomposition. Despite their ecological importance, the diversity and distribution of these species remain underexplored.</div><div>To assess the diversity, abundance, and distribution of lignicolous fungi, we sampled driftwood and wooden pillars from several Portuguese coastal and estuarine habitats, as well as submerged wood blocks in Viana do Castelo, Portugal. Isolates were molecularly typed using microsatellite-primed PCR and identified by ITS sequencing. When necessary, morphological data and specific genetic markers were used for species identification: beta-tubulin (<em>tub2</em>), translation elongation factor 1 alpha (<em>tef1-α</em>), large ribosomal subunit (28S), calmodulin (<em>cal</em>), histone (<em>H3</em>) or RNA polymerase II second largest subunit (<em>rpb2</em>).</div><div>From the 412 isolates recovered, 53 fungal genera were identified, with <em>Fusarium</em>, <em>Penicillium</em>, and <em>Alternaria</em> being the most frequent.</div><div>We show that the composition of fungal communities varied depending on the substrate and habitat. Marine obligate taxa were primarily associated with submerged wood and marine driftwood, whereas samples collected from brackish environments contained a higher diversity of marine-tolerant fungi. Driftwood samples exhibited the highest genus richness but low evenness, establishing them as a hotspot for fungal diversity. In contrast, submerged wood supported a high number of marine-exclusive taxa, including members of the family <em>Lulworthiaceae</em>. The noteworthy co-occurrence of fast-growing fungi with marine genera suggests a progression from pioneer to intermediate colonizers.</div><div>For the first time, the presence of <em>Diplodia</em> and <em>Neofusicoccum</em> species in marine environments is described. Additionally, <em>F. maritimus</em> gen. et sp. nov. represents the first known <em>Gelatinosdiscaceae</em> fungus from a marine environment.</div><div>Three novel species and one novel genus: <em>Cylindrodendrum marii</em> sp. nov., <em>Fusarium limianum</em> sp. nov., <em>Phaeosphaeria salina</em> sp. nov., and <em>Fluctus maritimus</em> gen. et sp. nov. are described and proposed.</div><div>This study reveals a high taxonomic diversity of lignicolous marine fungi, including novel taxa and previously unreported genera, highlighting their pivotal role in the ecological complexity of wood-associated communities in marine ecosystems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12683,"journal":{"name":"Fungal biology","volume":"130 2","pages":"Article 101718"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145975325","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"In silico structural and functional characterization of the Yap1 transcription factor in fungi of the Tuber genus: a study approach on the mechanisms of response to oxidative stress","authors":"B. Ranocchi,&nbsp;A. Pennesi,&nbsp;E. Baglieri,&nbsp;A. Amicucci","doi":"10.1016/j.funbio.2026.101716","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.funbio.2026.101716","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Tuber</em> genus includes hypogeous ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi, widely recognized as truffles. Truffles spend much of their life in a vegetative form in the soil, a crucial phase to ensure the growth and the accomplishment of their life cycle. Adverse events to which they may be subjected, <em>i.e.,</em> rise in temperature, drought, and biotic stress factors, can influence the levels of oxidative stress, increasing the production of free radicals.</div><div>It is known that both prokaryotes and eukaryotes have evolved various primary antioxidant defenses to protect themselves from oxidative damage. In some eukaryotes, transcription factors are activated to regulate the genes responsible for producing enzymes and proteins necessary to reduce ROS levels. In yeasts the Yap1 protein is a key modulator of oxidative stress response.</div><div>In this study, we used an <em>in silico</em> approach to characterize the Yap1 transcription factor in fungi of the <em>Tuber</em> genus, using <em>Saccharomyces cerevisiae</em> as the main reference model. The phylogenetic analysis based on the Yap1 protein sequences from 24 fungal species showed clustering consistent with their taxonomic relationships, including those observed within <em>Tuber</em> genus.</div><div>The amino acid alignment revealed the conservation within the <em>Tuber</em> species of cysteine-rich domains (nCRD and cCRD) and motifs potentially involved in redox regulation. Finally, by <em>silico</em> investigation of Yap1 possible protein interactions and three-dimensional structure in <em>Tuber melanosporum</em>, it was possible to provide further elements to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying the functionality of Yap1 and the response mechanism to oxidative stress modulated by it in fungi of the <em>Tuber</em> genus.</div><div>The evidence obtained represents an essential starting point for understanding a complex process that can strongly influence the biological cycle of the truffle and compromise its fruiting.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12683,"journal":{"name":"Fungal biology","volume":"130 2","pages":"Article 101716"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145915105","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Comparative analysis of mitochondrial genomes and evolutionary characteristics of five Alternaria species causing potato leaf spot diseases","authors":"Liyan Liang ,&nbsp;Yan Feng ,&nbsp;Zhuolin Han ,&nbsp;Faying Zhang ,&nbsp;Aihua Fu ,&nbsp;Xiaowenxuan Gao ,&nbsp;Wenwen Liu ,&nbsp;Qiaomei Yang ,&nbsp;Jing Yang ,&nbsp;Wei Tang","doi":"10.1016/j.funbio.2025.101715","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.funbio.2025.101715","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Mitochondria play a central role in fungal metabolism, adaptation, and pathogenesis, yet the evolutionary dynamics of mitochondrial genomes in plant-pathogenic <em>Alternaria</em> species remain poorly understood. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive comparative mitochondrial genomes analysis of five economically important <em>Alternaria</em> species—<em>Alternaria burnsii</em>, <em>A</em><em>. tenuissima</em>, <em>A</em>. <em>arborescens</em>, <em>A</em>. <em>alternata</em>, and <em>A. gossypina</em>—to investigate structural architecture, genomic variation, selection pressures, repeat element dynamics, and phylogenetic relationships. The mitochondrial genomes exhibited a conserved gene content of 13–14 core genes, 30–33 tRNA and 2 rRNA, but varied in size due to differences in intron insertions, intergenic spacers, and repetitive sequences. Strong A/U-biased codon usage was observed across species, consistent with high AT-richness and translational optimization. Purifying selection dominated across essential respiratory complexes (<em>cox</em>1-3<em>, atp</em>6-9 and <em>cob</em>), indicating functional constraint, while signals of positive selection and pseudogenization (disrupted <em>rps</em>3 in <em>A. burnsii</em> YUN-Z1107) suggest lineage-specific adaptations. We identified evolutionary hotspots in both coding and non-coding regions enriched with InDeLs and repeat expansions. A total of 920 simple sequence repeats (SSRs) were annotated, with <em>A. burnsii</em> YUN-Z1107 showing the highest SSR density, particularly pentanucleotide motifs, implicating replication slippage in genome plasticity. Long repetitive elements were associated with intron mobility and possible recombination events, especially in <em>A. arborescens</em> YUN-Z0872. Phylogenomic analysis of 29 <em>Ascomycota</em> species confirmed a monophyletic <em>Alternaria</em> clade within <em>Pleosporales</em>, although limited resolution within the genus suggests complex evolutionary histories. Our findings support a “conserved core with flexible periphery” model of mitochondrial genomes evolution, where mitochondrial innovation contributes to host adaptation and pathogenicity. This study highlights the mitochondrial genomes as an active driver of fungal evolution and provides a foundation for exploring mitochondria-host coevolution in plant–pathogen interactions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12683,"journal":{"name":"Fungal biology","volume":"130 1","pages":"Article 101715"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145938957","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Proteomic insights into Pholiota nameko mycelial response to wood-based substrates","authors":"Swathi Kothattil ,&nbsp;John A. Pecchia ,&nbsp;Eoin O'Connor","doi":"10.1016/j.funbio.2025.101714","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.funbio.2025.101714","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Pholiota microspora</em> (Berk.) Sacc., commonly known as “nameko,” is an edible mushroom widely cultivated in East Asia for both culinary and medicinal purposes. This study aimed to investigate how substrate composition influences the expression of lignocellulolytic enzymes in <em>Pholiota nameko</em> using label-free quantitative proteomics. The fungus was cultivated on four substrates: (1) a standard commercial mix (S) of oak sawdust, millet, rye, and wheat bran (24:8:3:3 w/w); (2) a minimally supplemented willow-based substrate (S1) with the same ratio; (3) a mixture of willow chips and cottonseed hulls (W + C) in a 3:1 ratio; and (4) willow chips alone (W). All substrates were incubated at a suboptimal temperature of 15 °C to simulate low-energy cultivation conditions and assess enzymatic responses under thermal constraint. A total of 1783 proteins were identified, with 165 showing statistically significant differential expression across substrates. Functional annotation revealed diverse enzyme groups, including oxidoreductases (e.g., manganese peroxidases, peroxygenases, tyrosinases) and hydrolases (e.g., endoglucanases, exoglucanases), which exhibited substrate-dependent regulation. Notably, oxidative enzymes were predominantly upregulated in the standard substrate, S while cellulolytic enzymes showed enhanced expression in substrates W and W + C. Several uncharacterized proteins were also identified, highlighting the need for future functional studies. These results underscore <em>P. nameko</em>'s adaptive enzymatic responses to lignocellulosic substrates under suboptimal, low-temperature conditions. This work advances understanding of its lignocellulolytic enzyme system, with implications for energy-efficient mushroom cultivation and industrial enzyme production.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12683,"journal":{"name":"Fungal biology","volume":"130 1","pages":"Article 101714"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145836802","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Role of the putative transcription factor Rim101 in pH/oxidative stress response and cell wall structure formation in the white-rot fungus Pleurotus ostreatus","authors":"Saori Endo ,&nbsp;Moriyuki Kawauchi ,&nbsp;Yuitsu Otsuka ,&nbsp;Junxian Han ,&nbsp;Rio Sato ,&nbsp;Daishiro Koshi ,&nbsp;Kenya Tsuji ,&nbsp;Akira Yoshimi ,&nbsp;Chihiro Tanaka ,&nbsp;Shigekazu Yano ,&nbsp;Takehito Nakazawa ,&nbsp;Yoichi Honda","doi":"10.1016/j.funbio.2025.101713","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.funbio.2025.101713","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The transcription factor Rim101 regulates various cellular functions in fungi, including maintaining cell homeostasis, regulating redox processes, and transmembrane transport, in response to environmental pH changes and redox stress. White-rot fungi encounter various environmental stresses during wood degradation. In this study, the role of Rim101 in the stress response of white-rot fungi was investigated by analysing the phenotype of <em>rim101</em>-disrupted strains of <em>Pleurotus ostreatus</em>. The Δ<em>rim101</em> strains exhibited approximately a 15 % decrease in growth rate on agar medium and impaired growth under culture conditions at pH 5, compared to the wild-type (WT) strain. Disruption of Rim101 also increased sensitivity to oxidative stress induced by H₂O₂. Notably, RT-PCR analysis showed reduced expression of oxidative stress-related genes (<em>cat1</em>, <em>cat2</em>, <em>gsh-px</em>, and <em>sod4</em>), suggesting that Rim101 is essential for the normal oxidative stress response in <em>P. ostreatus</em>. Furthermore, the Δ<em>rim101</em> strains exhibited reduced resistance to cell wall synthesis inhibitors, such as Calcofluor White and Micafungin. While the Δ<em>rim101</em> strains showed no significant differences in the expression of cell wall polysaccharide synthesis enzyme genes or cell wall thickness compared to the WT strain, the content of α-glucan in the dried mycelia and the signal of α-glucan detected by a fluorescent protein probe in the inner layer of the cell wall were increased. Therefore, disruption of <em>rim101</em> appears to affect cell wall integrity. This study provides evidence for the conserved function of Rim101 in pH and oxidative stress responses among basidiomycetes and ascomycetes. Additionally, a novel function of Rim101 was revealed, wherein it modulates the formation of the inner α-glucan layer in the cell wall of <em>P. ostreatus</em>.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12683,"journal":{"name":"Fungal biology","volume":"130 1","pages":"Article 101713"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145836803","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Towards sustainable control of chestnut brown rot: An in vitro evaluation of conventional and biobased solutions","authors":"Ioannis Konstantinos Platis ,&nbsp;Loukia M. Kellari ,&nbsp;Dimitris Natsiopoulos ,&nbsp;Antonia Argyri ,&nbsp;Panagiotis Eliopoulos ,&nbsp;Kalliope K. Papadopoulou ,&nbsp;Eleni Topalidou","doi":"10.1016/j.funbio.2025.101712","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.funbio.2025.101712","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Chestnut brown rot, caused by <em>Gnomoniopsis smithogilvyi (syn. Gnomoniopsis castanea) (Gnomoniaceae, Diaporthales, Ascomycota)</em>, is a major threat to global chestnut production due to its latent infections and post-harvest symptom expression. This study investigated the role of temperature in pathogen biology and post-harvest disease development during storage. Mycelial growth and sporulation were optimal at 25 °C but, although reduced at extreme temperatures, they were not completely inhibited. Post-infection assays demonstrated that pathogen activation during storage is strongly influenced by the interaction between temperature and incubation period, underscoring the potential for disease progression under suboptimal storage conditions, even in asymptomatic chestnuts. The <em>in vitro</em> efficacy of synthetic fungicides, natural compounds, and biological control agents (BCAs) against <em>G. smithogilvyi</em> was also evaluated. Among the nine compounds tested, BIOCLEAN (whey, chitosan hydrochloride, and <em>Equisetum arvense</em> extract) and the Difenoconazole (SCORE) completely inhibited mycelial growth and sporulation. Boscalid + Pyraclostrobin (Signum) and Fosetyl-Al (Aliette) showed strong inhibition (&gt;95 %), while moderate inhibition (78–85 %) was observed with Fluxapyroxad (Sercadis) and Fluopyram + Tebuconazole (Luna Experience). Potassium phosphonate and ionic copper formulations (Ocion ICC, Phozel) displayed limited efficacy. Among BCAs, <em>Trichoderma simonsii</em> exhibited the highest antagonism (72 % inhibition), followed by <em>Bacillus amyloliquefaciens</em>. Overall, the findings provide compelling evidence that rigorous temperature management during post-harvest storage, in combination with the application of targeted preharvest treatments in the field, can markedly reduce the incidence of brown rot. These results lay a solid foundation for the development of region-specific, integrated management strategies aimed at minimizing <em>G. smithogilvyi</em>-associated losses in commercial chestnut production.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12683,"journal":{"name":"Fungal biology","volume":"130 1","pages":"Article 101712"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145797558","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Comparative genomics of the peach rot fungus Didymosphaeria rubi-ulmifolii reveal carbohydrate-active enzyme expansion and unique wood-decay strategies","authors":"Shunyuan Wu ,&nbsp;Gen Li ,&nbsp;Dongle Zhang ,&nbsp;Junru Xu ,&nbsp;Wenli Yue ,&nbsp;Kuan Liang ,&nbsp;Yuanyuan Dong ,&nbsp;Yue Huang ,&nbsp;Yulong Wang ,&nbsp;Pu Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.funbio.2025.101711","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.funbio.2025.101711","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Didymosphaeriaceae</em> is recognized for inducing canker and wood decay in fruit trees, but those genetic mechanisms underlying these processes remain largely unexplored. Here, our study investigates wood decay mechanisms in <em>Didymosphaeria rubi-ulmifolii</em> GF1, a strain associated with internal vascular discoloration and stem cankers in peach trees, by the combination of genome, transcriptome sequencing and gene silencing. The fungal genome assembly measured 40.4 Mb with 15,112 protein-coding genes, including 791 carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes), revealing an expanded repertoire crucial for fungal metabolism. Transcriptome analysis of plant cell wall degrading enzymes uncovered the fungal functional adaptations to wood decay and pathogenicity. Furthermore, targeted gene silencing experiments using external dsRNA uptake effectively suppressed the expression of three lignin peroxidase genes and one manganese peroxidase gene, correlating with diminished fungal growth characteristics on peach tree wood, confirmed that those enzymes are involved in the lignin degradation for wood decaying. This comprehensive investigation provides novel insights into the wood decay mechanisms employed by plant pathogens, laying the groundwork for future studies aimed at effective management of plant diseases.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12683,"journal":{"name":"Fungal biology","volume":"130 1","pages":"Article 101711"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145797556","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}