Pub Date : 2026-02-01Epub Date: 2025-12-11DOI: 10.1016/j.funbio.2025.101708
Lanya Chen , Xiaoli Tian , Liping Chen , Jie Han , Jiehong Zhao
Cordyceps cicadae is a rare and valuable traditional edible-medicinal fungus. Its asexual fruiting bodies exhibit significant pharmacological properties. However, the molecular mechanisms governing the development of its asexual fruiting bodies remain poorly understood. To explore this phenomenon, we cloned CcSO, a homolog of the SO gene from Neurospora crassa, and generated both overexpression and knockout strains to investigate its role in fruiting body development. Our results showed that deletion of CcSO completely inhibited fruiting body formation, significantly reduced H2O2 and O2− content, compared to the wild-type strain. In contrast, overexpression of CcSO accelerated sporulation and promoted asexual fruiting body formation, accompanied by elevated O2− levels and reduced H2O2 content. RT-qPCR analysis revealed that during hyphal growth, CcSO, Slt2, and Rlm1 were co-regulated, suggesting their involvement in vegetative development. However, during fruiting body development, the expression of Slt2 and Rlm1 did not show a clear correlation with morphogenesis. Moreover, CcSO knockout strains exhibited increased virulence in infection assays using the greater wax moth (Galleria mellonella) but failed to form fruiting bodies. Taken together, these findings indicate that CcSO plays a crucial role in regulating asexual fruiting body development in C. cicadae, potentially through modulating ROS homeostasis and maintaining cell wall integrity.
{"title":"The CcSO gene plays a critical role in the development of asexual fruiting bodies in Cordyceps cicadae","authors":"Lanya Chen , Xiaoli Tian , Liping Chen , Jie Han , Jiehong Zhao","doi":"10.1016/j.funbio.2025.101708","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.funbio.2025.101708","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Cordyceps cicadae</em> is a rare and valuable traditional edible-medicinal fungus. Its asexual fruiting bodies exhibit significant pharmacological properties. However, the molecular mechanisms governing the development of its asexual fruiting bodies remain poorly understood. To explore this phenomenon, we cloned <em>CcSO</em>, a homolog of the <em>SO</em> gene from <em>Neurospora crassa</em>, and generated both overexpression and knockout strains to investigate its role in fruiting body development. Our results showed that deletion of <em>CcSO</em> completely inhibited fruiting body formation, significantly reduced H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> and O<sub>2</sub><sup>−</sup> content, compared to the wild-type strain. In contrast, overexpression of <em>CcSO</em> accelerated sporulation and promoted asexual fruiting body formation, accompanied by elevated O<sub>2</sub><sup>−</sup> levels and reduced H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> content. RT-qPCR analysis revealed that during hyphal growth, <em>CcSO</em>, <em>Slt2</em>, and <em>Rlm1</em> were co-regulated, suggesting their involvement in vegetative development. However, during fruiting body development, the expression of <em>Slt2</em> and <em>Rlm1</em> did not show a clear correlation with morphogenesis. Moreover, <em>CcSO</em> knockout strains exhibited increased virulence in infection assays using the greater wax moth (<em>Galleria mellonella</em>) but failed to form fruiting bodies. Taken together, these findings indicate that <em>CcSO</em> plays a crucial role in regulating asexual fruiting body development in <em>C. cicadae</em>, potentially through modulating ROS homeostasis and maintaining cell wall integrity.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12683,"journal":{"name":"Fungal biology","volume":"130 1","pages":"Article 101708"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145748783","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}
Pub Date : 2026-02-01Epub Date: 2025-11-26DOI: 10.1016/j.funbio.2025.101695
Yilin Luo , Haiyun Ding , Xiyan Mao , Zhixin Kang , Boda Li , Yong Zhou
Soil salinization caused by desertification and drought severely limits agricultural and forestry development. The rhizosphere core microbiome plays a vital role in helping host plants cope with environmental stress. However, in saline-alkali soils, it remains unclear how bacterial and fungal communities in the rhizosphere of Pinus tabuliformis interact and collectively respond to environmental factors to influence the plant. This study aims to identify the composition and functional potential of the core bacterial and fungal microbiota in the rhizosphere of P. tabuliformis in saline environments, as well as their interactions with environmental factors, thus providing a theoretical basis for utilizing core rhizosphere microbial resources. We performed high-throughput sequencing of root samples from P. tabuliformis at four locations. We analyzed the community structure and functional profiles of bacteria and fungi and their relationships with soil physicochemical properties. The environmental factors most influencing the number of core bacterial species were organic matter (OM), Na+, and total potassium (TK). Meanwhile, total phosphorus (TP) was the most influential soil factor for core fungal species. Correlation analysis showed that TN, TP, and pH significantly affected both bacterial and fungal community variation (P < 0.05). Co-occurrence network analysis indicated complex cross–kingdom interactions between core bacterial and fungal taxa. Functional predictions suggested that bacterial communities exhibit both potential pathogenicity and stress resistance, while fungal communities are more saprotrophic and sensitive to environmental changes. Microbial communities at the SYH site displayed a "high pathogenicity–low resistance" profile, contrasting with those at the MC site. Correlation network analysis further uncovered complex mutualistic and competitive relationships among core bacterial and fungal genera. This study demonstrates that P. tabuliformis rhizosphere bacterial and fungal communities respond collaboratively to salinity stress through functional complementarity, such as bacterial enrichment in stress resistance and fungal dominance in saprotrophy. These findings may offer new insights into enhancing the adaptability of P. tabuliformis and improving sandy land ecosystems by targeted management of the soil microbiome.
{"title":"Mechanistic insights into rhizosphere microbiome assembly in Pinus tabuliformis: The role of cross–kingdom interactions and soil salinity gradients","authors":"Yilin Luo , Haiyun Ding , Xiyan Mao , Zhixin Kang , Boda Li , Yong Zhou","doi":"10.1016/j.funbio.2025.101695","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.funbio.2025.101695","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Soil salinization caused by desertification and drought severely limits agricultural and forestry development. The rhizosphere core microbiome plays a vital role in helping host plants cope with environmental stress. However, in saline-alkali soils, it remains unclear how bacterial and fungal communities in the rhizosphere of <em>Pinus tabuliformis</em> interact and collectively respond to environmental factors to influence the plant. This study aims to identify the composition and functional potential of the core bacterial and fungal microbiota in the rhizosphere of <em>P. tabuliformis</em> in saline environments, as well as their interactions with environmental factors, thus providing a theoretical basis for utilizing core rhizosphere microbial resources. We performed high-throughput sequencing of root samples from <em>P. tabuliformis</em> at four locations. We analyzed the community structure and functional profiles of bacteria and fungi and their relationships with soil physicochemical properties. The environmental factors most influencing the number of core bacterial species were organic matter (OM), Na<sup>+</sup>, and total potassium (TK). Meanwhile, total phosphorus (TP) was the most influential soil factor for core fungal species. Correlation analysis showed that TN, TP, and pH significantly affected both bacterial and fungal community variation (P < 0.05). Co-occurrence network analysis indicated complex cross–kingdom interactions between core bacterial and fungal taxa. Functional predictions suggested that bacterial communities exhibit both potential pathogenicity and stress resistance, while fungal communities are more saprotrophic and sensitive to environmental changes. Microbial communities at the SYH site displayed a \"high pathogenicity–low resistance\" profile, contrasting with those at the MC site. Correlation network analysis further uncovered complex mutualistic and competitive relationships among core bacterial and fungal genera. This study demonstrates that <em>P. tabuliformis</em> rhizosphere bacterial and fungal communities respond collaboratively to salinity stress through functional complementarity, such as bacterial enrichment in stress resistance and fungal dominance in saprotrophy. These findings may offer new insights into enhancing the adaptability of <em>P. tabuliformis a</em>nd improving sandy land ecosystems by targeted management of the soil microbiome.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12683,"journal":{"name":"Fungal biology","volume":"130 1","pages":"Article 101695"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145691847","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}
Black pepper production has been gravely struck by the wreaking havoc due to foot rot caused by Phytophthora species namely, Phytophthora capsici and Phytophthora tropicalis. In India, black pepper is widely cultivated in Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The present study included the isolates collected from these major black pepper growing regions for haplotype analysis to decipher population diversity and to characterize the colony and sporangial morphology. Morphological characters analyzed were highly variable, and the majority showed umbellate ontogeny with caducous sporangia exhibiting different shapes. The haplotype analysis was carried out using both mitochondrial (Cox-1, Cox-2, Nad1 and Nad5) and nuclear genes (β-tubulin, EF-1α, Enolase, HSP90, TigA and Ura3). Sequence analysis was performed after manually trimming and aligning the sequences using ClustalX2. DnaSP v6.12.03 was used to calculate various parameters like polymorphisms, haplotypes, haplotype and nuclear diversity, recombination events and neutrality tests. The isolates displayed a greater number of haplotypes for EF1-α, and the haplotypes identified for Nad1 and Ura3 were comparatively fewer. PopART was used for the visual representation of the identified haplotypes. Further, the haplotypes identified from P. capsici infecting diverse hosts from Hawaii and some of the contiguous United States were also compared with the present study to impart more clarity. Restoration of genetic diversity after a severe bottleneck through balancing selection was revealed using the demographic analysis. The phylogenetic study indicated a possibility that the South Indian black pepper Phytophthora population was closely related to the aforementioned US population. The population structure analysis showed two genetic clusters among the South Indian population, and isolates with admixture ancestry were also identified, indicating migration events.
{"title":"Haplotype studies and population structure analysis of the South Indian population of Phytophthora species infecting black pepper","authors":"Fathimath Zumaila , Arjunan Jeevalatha , Chakkiyanickal Narayanan Biju","doi":"10.1016/j.funbio.2025.101693","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.funbio.2025.101693","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Black pepper production has been gravely struck by the wreaking havoc due to foot rot caused by <em>Phytophthora</em> species namely, <em>Phytophthora capsici</em> and <em>Phytophthora tropicalis</em>. In India, black pepper is widely cultivated in Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The present study included the isolates collected from these major black pepper growing regions for haplotype analysis to decipher population diversity and to characterize the colony and sporangial morphology. Morphological characters analyzed were highly variable, and the majority showed umbellate ontogeny with caducous sporangia exhibiting different shapes. The haplotype analysis was carried out using both mitochondrial (Cox-1, Cox-2, Nad1 and Nad5) and nuclear genes (β-tubulin, EF-1α, Enolase, HSP90, TigA and Ura3). Sequence analysis was performed after manually trimming and aligning the sequences using ClustalX2. DnaSP v6.12.03 was used to calculate various parameters like polymorphisms, haplotypes, haplotype and nuclear diversity, recombination events and neutrality tests. The isolates displayed a greater number of haplotypes for EF1-α, and the haplotypes identified for Nad1 and Ura3 were comparatively fewer. PopART was used for the visual representation of the identified haplotypes. Further, the haplotypes identified from <em>P. capsici</em> infecting diverse hosts from Hawaii and some of the contiguous United States were also compared with the present study to impart more clarity. Restoration of genetic diversity after a severe bottleneck through balancing selection was revealed using the demographic analysis. The phylogenetic study indicated a possibility that the South Indian black pepper <em>Phytophthora</em> population was closely related to the aforementioned US population. The population structure analysis showed two genetic clusters among the South Indian population, and isolates with admixture ancestry were also identified, indicating migration events.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12683,"journal":{"name":"Fungal biology","volume":"130 1","pages":"Article 101693"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145622680","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}
Pub Date : 2026-02-01Epub Date: 2025-12-18DOI: 10.1016/j.funbio.2025.101713
Saori Endo , Moriyuki Kawauchi , Yuitsu Otsuka , Junxian Han , Rio Sato , Daishiro Koshi , Kenya Tsuji , Akira Yoshimi , Chihiro Tanaka , Shigekazu Yano , Takehito Nakazawa , Yoichi Honda
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 rim101-disrupted strains of Pleurotus ostreatus. The Δrim101 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 (cat1, cat2, gsh-px, and sod4), suggesting that Rim101 is essential for the normal oxidative stress response in P. ostreatus. Furthermore, the Δrim101 strains exhibited reduced resistance to cell wall synthesis inhibitors, such as Calcofluor White and Micafungin. While the Δrim101 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 rim101 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 P. ostreatus.
{"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 , Moriyuki Kawauchi , Yuitsu Otsuka , Junxian Han , Rio Sato , Daishiro Koshi , Kenya Tsuji , Akira Yoshimi , Chihiro Tanaka , Shigekazu Yano , Takehito Nakazawa , 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 H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>. 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":"2026-02-01","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}
Pub Date : 2026-02-01Epub Date: 2025-12-04DOI: 10.1016/j.funbio.2025.101706
N. Gounel , A. Géry , B. Basset , V. Séguin , E. Chosson , J. Bonhomme , D. Garon
According to the French Agency for Food, Environmental, and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES), 37 % of French dwellings are contaminated by molds, particularly Aspergillus species. Among these, Aspergillus creber is the most frequently detected in the bioaerosols of mold-damaged dwellings and may be contribute to various health disorders. In the context of climate change, with indoor temperatures potentially exceeding 28 °C in summer, and amid the ongoing energy crisis, the French government recommends maintaining indoor temperature at 19 °C. This raises concerns about the effects of climatic conditions i.e. temperature (T°) and relative humidity (RH), on fungal growth, sterigmatocystin (STE) production, and minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of these molds. We therefore cultured three reference strains of Aspergillus creber under four common dwelling conditions (A: 19 °C, 50 % RH; B 19 °C, 75 % RH; C: 28 °C, 50 % RH; D: 28 °C, 75 % RH) on five different culture media (MEA, MEA+10 % NaCl, CYA, CY20S, and M40Y). Temperature significantly influenced growth (mean diameters: 19 °C: 22.8 mm; 28 °C: 34.4 mm; mean biomasses: 19 °C: 108.3 mg; 28 °C: 329.1 mg), STE production (mean concentrations: 19 °C: 3.5 μg/g/28 °C: 34.5 μg/g), and the MICs of antifungal agents, with a notable association between increased temperature and elevated MICs. The highest STE production (up to 99 μg/g) occurred at 28 °C on M40Y agar. Positive correlations were observed between diameters and biomass (r = 0.791; p < 0.0001), diameters and STE production (r = 0.431; p < 0.0001), and biomass and STE production (r = 0.305; p < 0.0001), suggesting a strong link between primary growth and secondary metabolism. These findings highlight the potential health risks posed by rising indoor temperatures, as projected under global climate change, which may lead to increased STE production in Aspergillus creber.
{"title":"In vitro impact of temperature and relative humidity on growth, sterigmatocystin production, and minimum inhibitory concentrations of Aspergillus creber","authors":"N. Gounel , A. Géry , B. Basset , V. Séguin , E. Chosson , J. Bonhomme , D. Garon","doi":"10.1016/j.funbio.2025.101706","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.funbio.2025.101706","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>According to the French Agency for Food, Environmental, and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES), 37 % of French dwellings are contaminated by molds, particularly <em>Aspergillus</em> species. Among these, <em>Aspergillus creber</em> is the most frequently detected in the bioaerosols of mold-damaged dwellings and may be contribute to various health disorders. In the context of climate change, with indoor temperatures potentially exceeding 28 °C in summer, and amid the ongoing energy crisis, the French government recommends maintaining indoor temperature at 19 °C. This raises concerns about the effects of climatic conditions <em>i.e</em>. temperature (T°) and relative humidity (RH), on fungal growth, sterigmatocystin (STE) production, and minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of these molds. We therefore cultured three reference strains of <em>Aspergillus creber</em> under four common dwelling conditions (A: 19 °C, 50 % RH; B 19 °C, 75 % RH; C: 28 °C, 50 % RH; D: 28 °C, 75 % RH) on five different culture media (MEA, MEA+10 % NaCl, CYA, CY20S, and M40Y). Temperature significantly influenced growth (mean diameters: 19 °C: 22.8 mm; 28 °C: 34.4 mm; mean biomasses: 19 °C: 108.3 mg; 28 °C: 329.1 mg), STE production (mean concentrations: 19 °C: 3.5 μg/g/28 °C: 34.5 μg/g), and the MICs of antifungal agents, with a notable association between increased temperature and elevated MICs. The highest STE production (up to 99 μg/g) occurred at 28 °C on M40Y agar. Positive correlations were observed between diameters and biomass (<em>r</em> = 0.791; <em>p</em> < 0.0001), diameters and STE production (<em>r</em> = 0.431; <em>p</em> < 0.0001), and biomass and STE production (<em>r</em> = 0.305; <em>p</em> < 0.0001), suggesting a strong link between primary growth and secondary metabolism. These findings highlight the potential health risks posed by rising indoor temperatures, as projected under global climate change, which may lead to increased STE production in <em>Aspergillus creber</em>.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12683,"journal":{"name":"Fungal biology","volume":"130 1","pages":"Article 101706"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145748782","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}
Pub Date : 2025-12-01Epub Date: 2025-10-25DOI: 10.1016/j.funbio.2025.101683
Xiaoli Li, Lirong Zhu, Guiqiu Luo, Haitao Chen, Huan Luo, Si Chen, Jinkui Yang
Arthrobotrys oligospora, a widely distributed nematode-trapping fungus, utilises adhesive mycelial nets (traps) to capture nematodes. As key components of the MAPK cascade, Sho1 and Opy2 are critical in the fungal stress response. This study examined the roles of homologous Sho1 (AoSho1) and Opy2 (AoOpy2) through gene knockout, phenotypic analysis, and multi-omics approaches. The results revealed that knockout of Aosho1 and Aoopy2 led to reduced mycelial growth, a significant decrease in spore production, trap formation, and nematode predation capacity. Furthermore, deletion of Aosho1 and Aoopy2 increased autophagic activity and heightened sensitivity to osmotic stress. Transcriptome analysis indicated that AoOpy2 functions as a multifaceted regulator in fungal growth, development, and environmental adaptation. Metabolomics data also suggested that AoSho1 and AoOpy2 are involved in several metabolic pathways. In conclusion, AoSho1 and AoOpy2 are essential for mycelial growth, osmoregulation, and the pathogenicity of A. oligospora. This study lays the groundwork for understanding the roles and potential mechanisms of the MAPK signalling pathway in the development and pathogenicity of nematode-trapping fungi.
{"title":"MAPK pathway components AoSho1 and AoOpy2 regulate growth, sporulation, osmoregulation, and pathogenicity in Arthrobotrys oligospora","authors":"Xiaoli Li, Lirong Zhu, Guiqiu Luo, Haitao Chen, Huan Luo, Si Chen, Jinkui Yang","doi":"10.1016/j.funbio.2025.101683","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.funbio.2025.101683","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Arthrobotrys oligospora</em>, a widely distributed nematode-trapping fungus, utilises adhesive mycelial nets (traps) to capture nematodes. As key components of the MAPK cascade, Sho1 and Opy2 are critical in the fungal stress response. This study examined the roles of homologous Sho1 (AoSho1) and Opy2 (AoOpy2) through gene knockout, phenotypic analysis, and multi-omics approaches. The results revealed that knockout of <em>Aosho1</em> and <em>Aoopy2</em> led to reduced mycelial growth, a significant decrease in spore production, trap formation, and nematode predation capacity. Furthermore, deletion of <em>Aosho1</em> and <em>Aoopy2</em> increased autophagic activity and heightened sensitivity to osmotic stress. Transcriptome analysis indicated that AoOpy2 functions as a multifaceted regulator in fungal growth, development, and environmental adaptation. Metabolomics data also suggested that AoSho1 and AoOpy2 are involved in several metabolic pathways. In conclusion, AoSho1 and AoOpy2 are essential for mycelial growth, osmoregulation, and the pathogenicity of <em>A. oligospora</em>. This study lays the groundwork for understanding the roles and potential mechanisms of the MAPK signalling pathway in the development and pathogenicity of nematode-trapping fungi.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12683,"journal":{"name":"Fungal biology","volume":"129 8","pages":"Article 101683"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145413742","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}
The mycotoxin deoxynivalenol (DON) is a secondary metabolite produced by Fusarium graminearum (teleomorph synonym: Gibberella zeae), which causes Fusarium head blight disease in barley and wheat. Although many studies have explored the photobiological responses (from blue to red in the visible wavelength range) of fungi that produce mycotoxins, few have focused on the growth and DON production of F. graminearum exposed to short-wave blue light at approximately 400 nm. In this study, conidia of G. zeae JCM 9873 were exposed to light at wavelengths of 385 or 405 nm for 1, 1.5, and 2 h, with the irradiance adjusted to 19 (low) or 53 (high) mW/cm2. The effects of wavelength and irradiance on mycelial growth, colony morphology, DON yield, and the levels of four transcripts (Tri4, Tri5, Tri6, and Tri101) of genes involved in DON biosynthesis were investigated. In addition, accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was involved in DON biosynthesis. Conidia treated with 385 or 405 nm light at low and high irradiance for 2 h formed colonies after a 2-day cultivation (no colonies after 1 day), and the radial mycelial growth enlarged, eventually becoming comparable to unirradiated conidia. Colony observations confirmed the induction of an intense orange color after 405-nm irradiation with high irradiance only. The colonies derived from conidia exposed to 385-nm light at low irradiance for 2 h showed the lowest DON yield (0.104 ± 0.008 mg/g fungal biomass) among tested light conditions, corresponding to a yield of 43 % of the control samples. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis of transcript levels indicated that all four DON-associated genes were downregulated. The suppressive effect of 385-nm light treatment on DON production may be useful for constructing light treatments that are economical with weak irradiance. By contrast, all four Tri genes were upregulated after treatment with 405-nm light at high irradiance for 2 h, resulting in a high DON yield 1.49-times that of the control. Microscopic observations using a fluorescent ROS probe suggested that accumulation of intracellular ROS after irradiation with 405-nm light stimulates DON biosynthesis. Therefore, DON production in response to light exposure varies depending on the wavelength and irradiance within the short-wave blue light range. A better understanding of the photobiological responses to light in this range, as well as to light in the visible wavelength range, could facilitate the development of photo-technologies to control contamination by mycotoxins, including DON.
{"title":"Effects of the wavelength and irradiance level of short-wave blue light on mycelial growth and deoxynivalenol production in Gibberella zeae","authors":"Akihiro Shirai , Kojiro Hosono , Ami Tanaka , Atsushi Tabata","doi":"10.1016/j.funbio.2025.101690","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.funbio.2025.101690","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The mycotoxin deoxynivalenol (DON) is a secondary metabolite produced by <em>Fusarium graminearum</em> (teleomorph synonym: <em>Gibberella zeae</em>), which causes Fusarium head blight disease in barley and wheat. Although many studies have explored the photobiological responses (from blue to red in the visible wavelength range) of fungi that produce mycotoxins, few have focused on the growth and DON production of <em>F</em>. <em>graminearum</em> exposed to short-wave blue light at approximately 400 nm. In this study, conidia of <em>G. zeae</em> JCM 9873 were exposed to light at wavelengths of 385 or 405 nm for 1, 1.5, and 2 h, with the irradiance adjusted to 19 (low) or 53 (high) mW/cm<sup>2</sup>. The effects of wavelength and irradiance on mycelial growth, colony morphology, DON yield, and the levels of four transcripts (<em>Tri4</em>, <em>Tri5</em>, <em>Tri6</em>, and <em>Tri101</em>) of genes involved in DON biosynthesis were investigated. In addition, accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was involved in DON biosynthesis. Conidia treated with 385 or 405 nm light at low and high irradiance for 2 h formed colonies after a 2-day cultivation (no colonies after 1 day), and the radial mycelial growth enlarged, eventually becoming comparable to unirradiated conidia. Colony observations confirmed the induction of an intense orange color after 405-nm irradiation with high irradiance only. The colonies derived from conidia exposed to 385-nm light at low irradiance for 2 h showed the lowest DON yield (0.104 ± 0.008 mg/g fungal biomass) among tested light conditions, corresponding to a yield of 43 % of the control samples. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis of transcript levels indicated that all four DON-associated genes were downregulated. The suppressive effect of 385-nm light treatment on DON production may be useful for constructing light treatments that are economical with weak irradiance. By contrast, all four <em>Tri</em> genes were upregulated after treatment with 405-nm light at high irradiance for 2 h, resulting in a high DON yield 1.49-times that of the control. Microscopic observations using a fluorescent ROS probe suggested that accumulation of intracellular ROS after irradiation with 405-nm light stimulates DON biosynthesis. Therefore, DON production in response to light exposure varies depending on the wavelength and irradiance within the short-wave blue light range. A better understanding of the photobiological responses to light in this range, as well as to light in the visible wavelength range, could facilitate the development of photo-technologies to control contamination by mycotoxins, including DON.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12683,"journal":{"name":"Fungal biology","volume":"129 8","pages":"Article 101690"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145516913","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}
Pub Date : 2025-12-01Epub Date: 2025-10-15DOI: 10.1016/j.funbio.2025.101679
Vytautas Melvydas , Kęstutis Mažeika , Antanas Matelis , Algimantas Paškevičius , Rasa Garjonytė
Metschnikowia pulcherrima clade yeasts produce pulcherriminic acid, which binds with iron to form pulcherrimin, a red pigment. However, the functions of pulcherriminic acid in yeasts and bacteria that synthesize it remain incompletely understood. To gain deeper understanding of these functions the responses of pulcherriminic acid-secreting Metschnikowia yeast in the presence of various solid iron sources (metallic iron, magnetite, and lepidocrocite) containing iron in different valence states were examined. By applying the classical plate method, the formation of pulcherrimin, was observed both when iron source is in the close contact and at some distance. Mössbauer spectroscopy was used to determine type of iron compounds formed through the interaction of the iron materials and the growth medium and the yeast, electrochemistry was used to test the ability of Metschnikowia cells to reduce iron ions, and microscopy was used to examine the pulcherrimin accumulation sites in cells. The Mössbauer spectroscopy revealed the presence of non-soluble pulcherrimin, intermediate Fe3+ compounds and some Fe2+ containing substances. Electrochemical measurements suggested the presence of redox active centers, which are able to reduce Fe3+ to Fe2+, in the cell membranes. Microscopy showed that the red pigment mostly accumulated in the chlamydospores. Although inhibition of Metschnikowia yeast growth was observed in the initial phase, pulcherrimin-producing yeast showed good resistance to high concentrations of metals (both iron and copper).
{"title":"Response of pulcherrimin-producing Metschnikowia yeast to different iron sources","authors":"Vytautas Melvydas , Kęstutis Mažeika , Antanas Matelis , Algimantas Paškevičius , Rasa Garjonytė","doi":"10.1016/j.funbio.2025.101679","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.funbio.2025.101679","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Metschnikowia pulcherrima</em> clade yeasts produce pulcherriminic acid, which binds with iron to form pulcherrimin, a red pigment. However, the functions of pulcherriminic acid in yeasts and bacteria that synthesize it remain incompletely understood. To gain deeper understanding of these functions the responses of pulcherriminic acid-secreting <em>Metschnikowia</em> yeast in the presence of various solid iron sources (metallic iron, magnetite, and lepidocrocite) containing iron in different valence states were examined. By applying the classical plate method, the formation of pulcherrimin, was observed both when iron source is in the close contact and at some distance. Mössbauer spectroscopy was used to determine type of iron compounds formed through the interaction of the iron materials and the growth medium and the yeast, electrochemistry was used to test the ability of <em>Metschnikowia</em> cells to reduce iron ions, and microscopy was used to examine the pulcherrimin accumulation sites in cells. The Mössbauer spectroscopy revealed the presence of non-soluble pulcherrimin, intermediate Fe<sup>3+</sup> compounds and some Fe<sup>2+</sup> containing substances. Electrochemical measurements suggested the presence of redox active centers, which are able to reduce Fe<sup>3+</sup> to Fe<sup>2+</sup>, in the cell membranes. Microscopy showed that the red pigment mostly accumulated in the chlamydospores. Although inhibition of <em>Metschnikowia</em> yeast growth was observed in the initial phase, pulcherrimin-producing yeast showed good resistance to high concentrations of metals (both iron and copper).</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12683,"journal":{"name":"Fungal biology","volume":"129 8","pages":"Article 101679"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145322431","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}
Pub Date : 2025-12-01Epub Date: 2025-11-17DOI: 10.1016/j.funbio.2025.101692
Angélica María Berlanga-Padilla, Gisela Jareth Lino-López, Miguel Angel Ayala-Zermeño, Facundo Muñiz-Paredes, Roberto Montesinos-Matías, Jorge Antonio Sánchez-González
Coffee leaf rust, caused by Hemileia vastatrix, continues to pose a severe threat to coffee production in Mexico and globally. In response, the search for sustainable, ecologically based control strategies has turned toward mycopathogenic fungi as natural antagonists of plant pathogens. This study reports the isolation and characterization of 27 mycopathogenic fungal strains resembling Lecanicillium and Verticillium spp. from H. vastatrix pustules in the Mexican states of Chiapas, Colima, Nayarit and Veracruz. Detailed morphological and molecular analyses revealed two novel species (Akanthomyces hemiliae-vastatricis sp. nov. and Akanthomyces jabaliensis sp. nov.) as well as a new national record of Akanthomyces uredinophilus. The detection of Simplicillium lanosoniveum, a key natural antagonist of coffee rust, further underscores the ecological complexity of fungal interactions within coffee agroecosystems. These findings enrich the understanding of mycopathogen diversity associated with H. vastatrix and support the integration of native fungal strains into biological control frameworks, offering a promising path toward more resilient coffee cultivation systems.
{"title":"Fungi associated with coffee rust Hemileia vastatrix and the description of two new species","authors":"Angélica María Berlanga-Padilla, Gisela Jareth Lino-López, Miguel Angel Ayala-Zermeño, Facundo Muñiz-Paredes, Roberto Montesinos-Matías, Jorge Antonio Sánchez-González","doi":"10.1016/j.funbio.2025.101692","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.funbio.2025.101692","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Coffee leaf rust, caused by <em>Hemileia vastatrix</em>, continues to pose a severe threat to coffee production in Mexico and globally. In response, the search for sustainable, ecologically based control strategies has turned toward mycopathogenic fungi as natural antagonists of plant pathogens. This study reports the isolation and characterization of 27 mycopathogenic fungal strains resembling <em>Lecanicillium</em> and <em>Verticillium</em> spp. from <em>H. vastatrix</em> pustules in the Mexican states of Chiapas, Colima, Nayarit and Veracruz. Detailed morphological and molecular analyses revealed two novel species (<em>Akanthomyces hemiliae-vastatricis</em> sp. nov. and <em>Akanthomyces jabaliensis</em> sp. nov.) as well as a new national record of <em>Akanthomyces uredinophilus</em>. The detection of <em>Simplicillium lanosoniveum</em>, a key natural antagonist of coffee rust, further underscores the ecological complexity of fungal interactions within coffee agroecosystems. These findings enrich the understanding of mycopathogen diversity associated with <em>H. vastatrix</em> and support the integration of native fungal strains into biological control frameworks, offering a promising path toward more resilient coffee cultivation systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12683,"journal":{"name":"Fungal biology","volume":"129 8","pages":"Article 101692"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145576114","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}
Pub Date : 2025-12-01Epub Date: 2025-11-11DOI: 10.1016/j.funbio.2025.101689
Qiaoyu Wang , Chenmeng Wan , Ke'er Xiao, Zijian Tong, Ziteng Zhao, Xinyu Meng, Mukaddas Sai, Yajie Bao, Lili Guan, Hongxia Ma, Linna Du
Grifola frondosa, a famous mushroom worldwide, is highly valued for its multiple health benefits. However, the limited mycelial biomass and low triterpenes (GFTs) yield remain critical constraints for large-scale utilization of this fungus. In the present study, the effect of different vegetable oils on the liquid fermentation efficiency of G. frondosa was investigated, firstly. Furthermore, following optimization of the olive oil addition process and analysis of fermentation kinetics, the positive effect of olive oil on the hyphal growth and GFTs accumulation was identified. Further observations revealed that olive oil treatment led to increased flocculent hyphae, peroxisomes, mitochondria, and reactive oxygen species levels. Additionally, improvements in membrane integrity, lipid droplet accumulation, energy metabolism, and antioxidant capacity were found in the olive-oil-treated hyphae. Transcriptome sequencing and qRT-PCR results indicated that the expression of various genes involved in the peroxisome pathway was upregulated in the olive-oil-treated hyphae, suggesting that peroxisomes may participate in G. frondosa's response to olive oil. Overall, supplementing olive oil enhanced the growth and triterpenes production of G. frondosa. This study provides a strategy for improving the efficiency of industrial liquid fermentation for this mushroom.
{"title":"Olive oil additive enhances hyphal growth and triterpenes accumulation in submerged fermentation of Grifola frondosa","authors":"Qiaoyu Wang , Chenmeng Wan , Ke'er Xiao, Zijian Tong, Ziteng Zhao, Xinyu Meng, Mukaddas Sai, Yajie Bao, Lili Guan, Hongxia Ma, Linna Du","doi":"10.1016/j.funbio.2025.101689","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.funbio.2025.101689","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Grifola frondosa</em>, a famous mushroom worldwide, is highly valued for its multiple health benefits. However, the limited mycelial biomass and low triterpenes (GFTs) yield remain critical constraints for large-scale utilization of this fungus. In the present study, the effect of different vegetable oils on the liquid fermentation efficiency of <em>G. frondosa</em> was investigated, firstly. Furthermore, following optimization of the olive oil addition process and analysis of fermentation kinetics, the positive effect of olive oil on the hyphal growth and GFTs accumulation was identified. Further observations revealed that olive oil treatment led to increased flocculent hyphae, peroxisomes, mitochondria, and reactive oxygen species levels. Additionally, improvements in membrane integrity, lipid droplet accumulation, energy metabolism, and antioxidant capacity were found in the olive-oil-treated hyphae. Transcriptome sequencing and qRT-PCR results indicated that the expression of various genes involved in the peroxisome pathway was upregulated in the olive-oil-treated hyphae, suggesting that peroxisomes may participate in <em>G. frondosa</em>'s response to olive oil. Overall, supplementing olive oil enhanced the growth and triterpenes production of <em>G. frondosa</em>. This study provides a strategy for improving the efficiency of industrial liquid fermentation for this mushroom.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12683,"journal":{"name":"Fungal biology","volume":"129 8","pages":"Article 101689"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145576115","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}
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