Journal of Fungi最新文献

Postharvest decay of vegetables and fruits presents a significant threat confronting sustainable food production worldwide, and in the recent times, applying synthetic fungicides has become the most popular technique of managing postharvest losses. However, there are concerns and reported proofs of hazardous impacts on consumers' health and the environment, traceable to the application of chemical treatments as preservatives on fresh produce. Physical methods, on the other hand, cause damage to fresh produce, exposing it to even more infections. Therefore, healthier and more environmentally friendly alternatives to existing methods for managing postharvest decays of fresh produce should be advocated. There is increasing consensus that utilization of biological control agents (BCAs), mainly fungi, represents a more sustainable and effective strategy for controlling postharvest losses compared to physical and chemical treatments. Secretion of antifungal compounds, parasitism, as well as competition for nutrients and space are the most common antagonistic mechanisms employed by these BCAs. This article provides an overview of (i) the methods currently used for management of postharvest diseases of fresh produce, highlighting their limitations, and (ii) the use of biocontrol agents as an alternative strategy for control of such diseases, with emphasis on fungal antagonists, their mode of action, and, more importantly, their advantages when compared to other methods commonly used. We therefore hypothesize that the use of fungal antagonists for prevention of postharvest loss of fresh produce is more effective compared to physical and chemical methods. Finally, particular attention is given to the gaps observed in establishing beneficial microbes as BCAs and factors that hamper their development, particularly in terms of shelf life, efficacy, commercialization, and legislation procedures.

Wheat leaf rust caused by Puccinia triticina (Pt) is a prevalent disease worldwide, seriously threatening wheat production. Pt acquires nutrients from host cells via haustoria and secretes effector proteins to modify and regulate the expression of host disease resistance genes, thereby facilitating pathogen growth and reproduction. The study of effector proteins is of great significance for clarifying the pathogenic mechanisms of Pt and effective control of leaf rust. Herein, we report a wheat leaf rust candidate effector protein Pt48115 that is highly expressed in the late stages of infection during wheat-Pt interaction. Pt48115 contains a signal peptide with a secretory function and a transit peptide that can translocate Pt48115 to the host chloroplasts. The amino acid sequence polymorphism analysis of Pt48115 in seven different leaf rust races showed that it was highly conserved. Pt48115 inhibited cell death induced by Bcl-2-associated X protein (BAX) from mice or infestans 1 (INF1) from Phytophthora infestans in Nicotiana benthamiana and by DC3000 in wheat, and its 145-175 amino acids of the C-terminal are critical for its function. Furthermore, Pt48115 inhibited callose deposition and reactive oxygen species accumulation in the wheat cultivar Thatcher, demonstrating that it is an effector that enhances Pt virulence by suppressing wheat defense responses. Our findings lay a foundation for future studies on the pathogenesis of Pt during wheat-fungus interaction.

Trametes versicolor is an important fungus with medicinal properties and a significant role in lignocellulose degradation. In this study, we constructed a high-quality chromosome-level genome of T. versicolor using Illumina, PacBio HiFi, and Hi-C sequencing technologies. The assembled genome is 47.42 Mb in size and contains 13,307 protein-coding genes. BUSCO analysis revealed genome and gene completeness results of 95.80% and 95.90%, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis showed that T. versicolor is most closely related to T. pubescens, followed by T. cinnabarina and T. coccinea. Comparative genomic analysis identified 266 syntenic blocks between T. versicolor and Wolfiporia cocos, indicating a conserved evolutionary pattern between the two species. Gene family analysis highlighted the expansion and contraction of genes in functional categories related to the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, including several T. versicolor-specific genes. Key genes involved in lignocellulose degradation and triterpene production were identified within the CAZyme and CYP450 gene families. Transcriptomic analysis under dark and light conditions revealed significant changes in the expression of genes related to secondary metabolism, suggesting that light signals regulate metabolic pathways. A total of 2577 transporter proteins and 2582 membrane proteins were identified and mapped in the T. versicolor genome, and 33 secondary metabolite gene clusters were identified, including two light-sensitive triterpene biosynthesis clusters. This study offers a comprehensive genomic resource for further investigation into the functional genomics, metabolic regulation, and triterpene biosynthesis of T. versicolor, providing valuable insights into fungal evolution and biotechnological applications.

Freshwater fungi consist of a highly diverse group of organisms in freshwater habitats worldwide. During a survey of fungal diversity in freshwater habitats across different regions of Jiangxi Province, China, four freshwater fungi were collected. To study their phylogenetic relationships, the internal transcribed spacer (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2), large subunit (28S, LSU), small subunit (18S, SSU), and RNA polymerase II subunit (RPB2) genes were selected for phylogenetic analyses. Based on morphology coupled with phylogenetic analysis, these strains were confirmed to belong to Phaeoisaria, Pleurothecium, and Pseudodactylaria. Among them, three fungi were confirmed as the new species, namely, Pleurothecium lignicola (Pleurotheciaceae), Pseudodactylaria jiangxiensis (Pseudodactylariaceae), and Ps. lignicola (Pseudodactylariaceae). One species was identified as Phaeoisaria filiformis (Pleurotheciaceae), a new record of this species in China. All species were compared with other similar species, and detailed descriptions, illustrations, and phylogenetic data were provided.

Floccularia luteovirens (F. luteovirens) has garnered increasing attention as an ingredient in both the pharmaceutical and food industries. Depending on the drying method, the accumulation of metabolites can greatly affect the quality. This research employed an untargeted metabolomics (LC-MS/MS) strategy to elucidate the similarities and differences in the morphological characteristics, microstructure, antioxidant capacity, and metabolic profiles of F. luteovirens subjected to three distinct drying methods: natural air-drying (YG), oven-drying (HG), and vacuum freeze-drying (DG). Our findings indicated that the color of F. luteovirens samples dried using the YG and HG methods was yellow-brown, exhibiting a high degree of browning, whereas the samples processed by the DG method displayed a golden-yellow hue and a desirable fullness. Regarding microstructure, the F. luteovirens samples from the YG and HG methods exhibited small and unevenly distributed pores, in contrast to the samples from the DG method, which were structurally intact and characterized by large inter-tissue pores. The antioxidant activity exhibited by F. luteovirens samples, which were processed using the DG method, was found to be significantly superior compared to the antioxidant activity of samples dried using two other methods. A correlation analysis indicated a significant link between antioxidant capacity and lipid as well as lipid-like molecules. Metabolomic analysis identified 1617 metabolites across 15 superclasses, with lipids, lipid-like molecules, organic acids and derivatives, and organic heterocyclic compounds being the predominant metabolites in F. luteovirens. Furthermore, KEGG enrichment analysis highlighted 20 pathways, indicating that the metabolism of amino acids could be significantly involved in the metabolic processes linked to the drying of F. luteovirens. This research clarifies how different drying techniques impact the metabolites or metabolic pathways of F. luteovirens, identifying the mechanisms that influence its quality and providing a reference for optimizing its processing and storage.

Mushrooms are valued for their culinary and medicinal benefits, containing bioactive compounds like polysaccharides, terpenoids, phenolics, lectins, and ergosterols. This review aims to encourage research on D. indusiata by summarizing its chemistry, health benefits, pharmacology, and potential therapeutic applications. Molecules from D. indusiata offer anti-diabetic, antioxidant, anti-tumor, hepatoprotective, and anti-bacterial effects. In particular, polysaccharides from Dictyophora indusiata (DIP) enhance immune function, reduce oxidative stress, and promote gut health as prebiotics. DIP shows neuroprotective effects by reducing oxidative damage, improving mitochondrial function, and regulating apoptosis, making them beneficial for neurodegenerative diseases. They also activate immune responses through TLR4 and NF-κB pathways. Additionally, compounds like dictyophorines and quinazoline from D. indusiata support nerve growth and protection. Mushrooms help regulate metabolism and improve lipid profiles, with potential applications in managing metabolic disorders, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and neurodegenerative conditions. Their wide range of bioactive compounds makes D. indusiata mushrooms functional foods with significant therapeutic potential.

This review delves into innovative technologies to improve the control of vascular fungal plant pathogens. It also briefly summarizes traditional biocontrol approaches to manage them, addressing their limitations and emphasizing the need to develop more sustainable and precise solutions. Powerful tools such as next-generation sequencing, meta-omics, and microbiome engineering allow for the targeted manipulation of microbial communities to enhance pathogen suppression. Microbiome-based approaches include the design of synthetic microbial consortia and the transplant of entire or customized soil/plant microbiomes, potentially offering more resilient and adaptable biocontrol strategies. Nanotechnology has also advanced significantly, providing methods for the targeted delivery of biological control agents (BCAs) or compounds derived from them through different nanoparticles (NPs), including bacteriogenic, mycogenic, phytogenic, phycogenic, and debris-derived ones acting as carriers. The use of biodegradable polymeric and non-polymeric eco-friendly NPs, which enable the controlled release of antifungal agents while minimizing environmental impact, is also explored. Furthermore, artificial intelligence and machine learning can revolutionize crop protection through early disease detection, the prediction of disease outbreaks, and precision in BCA treatments. Other technologies such as genome editing, RNA interference (RNAi), and functional peptides can enhance BCA efficacy against pathogenic fungi. Altogether, these technologies provide a comprehensive framework for sustainable and precise management of fungal vascular diseases, redefining pathogen biocontrol in modern agriculture.

Morels (Morchella spp.), as one of the rare macroascomycetes that can be cultivated artificially, possess significant economic and scientific values. Morel cultivation is highly sensitive to elevated temperatures; however, the mechanisms of their response to heat shock remain poorly understood. This study integrated transcriptomic and quantitative proteomic analyses of two M. sextelata strains with different thermotolerance (labeled as strains C and D) under normal (18 °C) and high temperature (28 °C) conditions. From over 9300 transcripts and 5000 proteins, both consistency and heterogeneity were found in response to heat shock between the two strains. Both strains displayed a capacity to maintain cellular homeostasis in response to heat shock through highly expressed cell wall integrity (CWI) pathways, heat shock proteins (HSPs), and antioxidant systems. However, strain D, which exhibited stronger thermotolerance, specifically upregulated the ubiquitin ligase Rsp5, thereby further promoting the expression of HSPs, which may be a key factor influencing the thermotolerance difference among M. sextelata strains. A conceptual model of the heat shock adaptation regulatory network in M. sextelata was proposed for the first time; the results provide novel insights into the thermotolerance response mechanisms of macroascomycetes and valuable resources for the breeding enhancement of thermotolerant morel strains.

Floccularia is known as a northern-hemisphere-distributed genus with important economic values, especially in Western China. However, its species diversity in Asia and the phylogeny of this genus have not been critically studied. Based on worldwide sampling and multi-locus DNA sequence data (ITS, LSU, rpb2, tef1), the phylogeny of Floccularia was reconstructed, and the species diversity in Asia was critically studied on the basis of morphology and phylogeny. The results showed that five phylogenetic species can be recognized in this genus, of which there are four species in Asia, two species in North America and one species in Europe. According to our result, in addition to F. luteovirens, three new species, F. asiatica, F. flava and F. sinensis, were distributed in Asia, while in North America, F. pitkinensis and F. fusca could be synonyms of F. albolanaripes, as both species are phylogenetically intermingled within F. albolanaripes. Morphological descriptions of new species, color images of basidiomes, line drawings of their microscopic features, and a key to the Asian species of this genus are provided. Our study reconstructed the phylogeny of Floccularia for the first time and clarified the species diversity of Floccularia in Asia and suggests the need for detailed study of American specimens in order to accurately assess the diversity of Floccularia in America.

Proteins found within the fungal cell wall usually contain both N- and O-oligosaccharides. N-glycosylation is the process where these oligosaccharides (hereinafter: glycans) are attached to asparagine residues, while in O-glycosylation the glycans are covalently bound to serine or threonine residues. The PMT family is grouped into PMT1, PMT2, and PMT4 subfamilies. Using bioinformatics analysis within the Botrytis cinerea genome database, an ortholog to Saccharomyces cerevisiae Pmt4 and other fungal species was identified. The aim of this study was to assess the relevance of the bcpmt4 gene in B. cinerea glycosylation. For this purpose, the bcpmt4 gene was disrupted by homologous recombination in the B05.10 strain using a hygromycin B resistance cassette. Expression of bcpmt4 in S. cerevisiae ΔScpmt4 or ΔScpmt3 null mutants restored glycan levels like those observed in the parental strain. The phenotypic analysis showed that Δbcpmt4 null mutants exhibited significant changes in hyphal cell wall composition, including reduced mannan levels and increased amounts of chitin and glucan. Furthermore, the loss of bcpmt4 led to decreased glycosylation of glycoproteins in the B. cinerea cell wall. The null mutant lacking PMT4 was hypersensitive to a range of cell wall perturbing agents, antifungal drugs, and high hydrostatic pressure. Thus, in addition to their role in glycosylation, the PMT4 is required to virulence, biofilm formation, and membrane integrity. This study adds to our knowledge of the role of the B. cinerea bcpmt4 gene, which is involved in glycosylation and cell biology, cell wall formation, and antifungal response.