Journal of Fungi最新文献

Shanxi Province, located in northern China, characterized by a warm-temperate monsoon climate, complex mountainous topography, and vegetation dominated by trees of Fagaceae and Pinaceae, provides diverse habitats for Russula diversity. Recent investigations on macrofungi in this region revealed nine new Russula species based on integrated morphological and multi-locus phylogenetic analyses (ITS, nrLSU, rpb2, tef1), which are described and illustrated in this paper. These new taxa are classified into three subgenera of Russula: one species of subgen. Brevipes, four of subgen. Heterophyllidia, four of subgen. Russula. This work enhances the understanding of Russula resources in China's temperate zone.

Erysiphe corylacearum, the causal agent of powdery mildew in hazelnut (Corylus avellana L.), has become an emerging pathogen of concern in Italian hazelnut production requiring rapid and accurate detection to support timely disease management and phytosanitary measures. We developed and validated a field-deployable loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay for the specific detection of E. corylacearum and evaluated three primer sets targeting the Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) region, RNA polymerase II second largest subunit (rpb2), and glutamine synthetase (GS) genes; the GS-targeting Ecg set showed the highest sensitivity and specificity. The assay was shown to be sensitive down to 200 fg of fungal DNA, efficiently detected E. corylacearum from diluted crude leaf extracts, and produced results within half an hour, allowing the detection of latent infections before visible symptoms emerged. On-site validation with a portable LAMP instrument showed the assay's suitability for field-deployable diagnosis and early-warning applications in hazelnut orchards.

Powdery mildew (PM) is a major disease affecting bitter gourd cultivation, and resolving the molecular regulatory mechanisms underlying PM resistance is important for bitter gourd molecular breeding for resistance. In this study, morphological and molecular methods were used to identify the PM pathogen in bitter gourd, and comparative transcriptome analysis was performed on leaves of the resistant cultivar R and the susceptible cultivar S after PM infection. The morphological and molecular identification results showed that the PM pathogen in bitter gourd was Podosphaera xanthii. Scanning electron microscopy results revealed that the P. xanthii exhibited distinct growth patterns in the R and S after P. xanthii infection. Compared to the S, the R exhibited 3966, 2729, 5891, and 3878 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) at 0, 2, 3, and 4 days after P. xanthii infection, respectively. KEGG enrichment analysis showed that DEGs were primarily enriched in plant-pathogen interactions, MAPK signaling pathway plants, and plant hormone signal transduction pathways. Transcription factor (TF) analysis of differentially expressed genes revealed that MYB, bHLH, and ERF family members could be involved in the defense process against the P. xanthii infection. Moreover, the analysis of the MLO genes revealed that Moc10g30350.1 could be involved in regulating PM resistance. These findings could enrich the molecular theoretical basis for resistance to PM, and provide new insights for the molecular breeding process of bitter gourd resistance to PM.

Endophyte fungi (EF) are considered a new and valuable reservoir of bioactive molecules of biotechnological interest for pharmacy, agricultural and forestry industries. In this study, thirty EFs, isolated from three Chilean Nothofagus species (N. alpina, N. dombeyi, N. oblicua) were identified and cultured in submerged liquid fermentations aimed at searching for natural active substances. The extracts obtained were evaluated against pathogenic bacteria and fungi. Sixteen extracts (53.3%) presented antibacterial and fourteen (46.6%) presented antifungal activities in different intensities. Extracts from isolates Coryneum sp.-72 and P. cinnamomea-78 exhibited the highest antimicrobial activity. Using bioautography, the compounds responsible for the antimicrobial activity exhibited by Coryneum sp.-72 and P. cinnamomea-78 were detected and characterized. Coryneum sp.-72 showed bactericidal properties at 200 μg/mL and bacteriostatic effects at 50 μg/mL against B. cereus, B. subtilis, L. monocytogenes and S. aureus. MIC values indicated that P. cinnamomea-78 exhibited a strong fungistatic and fungicidal effect against B. cinerea and C. gloesporioides at 10-50 μg/mL. Isolates were grouped in the following order: Botryosphaeriales, Diaporthales, Eurotiales, Helotiales, Hypocreales, Pleosporales, Magnaporthales, Sordariales and Polyporales. EF isolated, identified and evaluated constitute the first report for Chilean Nothofagus genus.

Mitochondrial genomes play a central role in fungal physiology and adaptation, yet their evolutionary dynamics during domestication remain poorly understood. Here, we performed a comparative mitogenomic and gene-expression analysis of three Pleurotus ostreatus dikaryotic strains differing in origin and degree of adaptation to laboratory conditions: the long-term commercial strain dkN001, the laboratory-maintained wild isolate dkF515, and the recently collected wild strain dkN009. High-throughput Illumina sequencing enabled complete assembly of circular mitochondrial genomes, revealing substantial size variation among strains, where the dkN001 strain exhibited the second smallest mitogenome reported for the genus Pleurotus. Comparative analyses showed >99% sequence identity between wild isolates and ~95% identity relative to the commercial strain. Variations in genome size among strains were associated with intron dynamics in the cox1 and rnl genes, as well as intron loss predominantly in the commercial strain dkN001, consistent with mitochondrial genome streamlining during domestication. Expression profiling of mitochondrial protein-coding genes (PCGs) under multiple culture conditions revealed conserved transcriptional responses in dkN001 and dkF515 that contrasted sharply with those of dkN009. The differences observed, which affected components of the electron transport chain, suggested shifts in energy metabolism associated with long-term laboratory maintenance. Therefore, our results demonstrate that domestication in P. ostreatus involves both structural remodelling of the mitogenome and changes in regulation of mitochondrial PCGs, highlighting the importance of mitonuclear interactions in fungal adaptation to controlled environments.

Candidozyma auris (formerly Candida auris) is an emerging multidrug-resistant fungal pathogen with confirmed cases in over 30 countries. Although whole-genome sequencing (WGS) analysis defined distinct clades during characterization of underlying genetic mechanism behind multidrug resistance, Clade II remains under-evaluated. In this study, a three-level comparative genomic strategy (Global, Clade, Phenotype) was employed by integration of unbiased genome-wide comparative SNP screening (GATK v4.1.9.0), targeted BLAST profiling (BLAST+ v2.17.0), and in silico protein analysis (ColabFold v1.5.5; DynaMut2 v2.0) for systematic evaluation of mechanisms of antifungal resistance in thirty-nine Clade II C. auris clinical isolates and fourteen reference strains. Global and clade-level analyses confirmed that all the clinical isolates belong to Clade II, according to phylogenetic clustering and mating type locus (MTL) conservation. At the phenotype level, a distinct subclade of fluconazole-resistant mutants was identified to have a heterogenous network of mutations in seven key enzymes associated with cell membrane dynamics and the metabolic stress response. Among these, four core mutations (TAC1B, CAN2, NIC96, PMA1) were confirmed as functional drivers based on strict criteria during multitier in silico protein analysis: cross-species conservation, surface exposure, active site proximity, thermodynamic stability, and protein interface interaction. On the other hand, three high-level fluconazole-resistant clinical isolates (≥128 μg/mL) that lacked these functional drivers were subjected to comprehensive subtractive genomic profiling analysis. The absence of coding mutations in validated resistance drivers, yeast orthologs, and convergent variants suggests that there is an alternative novel non-coding or regulatory mechanism behind fluconazole resistance. These findings highlight Clade II's evolutionary divergence into two distinct trajectories towards the development of a high level of fluconazole resistance: canonical protein alteration versus regulatory modulation.

Cadmium (Cd) drastically inhibits plant growth and metabolism, whereas arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi can enhance plant Cd tolerance through metabolic regulation. To clarify tissue-specific responses, we conducted a pot experiment combined with GC-MS to examine how AM fungi influence root and leaf metabolism of ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) under different Cd levels. Root and leaf metabolomes diverged substantially in composition and function. In total, 83 metabolites were identified in roots, mainly phenolics, amines, and sugars associated with carbon-nitrogen metabolism and stress-defense pathways, whereas 75 metabolites were identified in leaves, largely related to photosynthetic metabolism. Roots were more sensitive to Cd, showing significant metabolic alterations at Cd ≥ 5 mg·kg^-1, including disruption of galactose metabolism, while leaves exhibited notable changes only at Cd ≥ 100 mg·kg^-1, with suppression of citrate, L-aspartate, and starch and sucrose metabolism. AM fungi modulated plant metabolism more strongly under Cd stress. Specifically, AM fungi restored Cd-suppressed galactose and glyoxylate/dicarboxylate metabolism in roots, enhanced starch and sucrose metabolism and amino acid pathways in leaves, and increased stress-related amino acids and organic acids in both tissues. Overall, AM fungi substantially alleviated Cd-induced metabolic inhibition, particularly at Cd ≥ 50 mg·kg^-1, providing mechanistic insight into AM-enhanced Cd tolerance and supporting the application of AM symbiosis in remediation of Cd-contaminated soils.

As an emerging threat to global food security, wheat blast necessitates the development of a rapid and field-deployable detection system to facilitate early diagnosis, enable effective management, and prevent its further spread to new regions. In this study, we aimed to validate and improve a Recombinase Polymerase Amplification coupled with PCRD lateral flow detection (RPA-PCRD strip assay) kit for the rapid and specific identification of Magnaporthe oryzae pathotype Triticum (MoT) in field samples. The assay demonstrated exceptional sensitivity, detecting as low as 10 pg/µL of target DNA, and exhibited no cross-reactivity with M. oryzae Oryzae (MoO) isolates and other major fungal phytopathogens under the genera of Fusarium, Bipolaris, Colletotrichum, and Botrydiplodia. The method successfully detected MoT in wheat leaves as early as 4 days post-infection (DPI), and in infected spikes, seeds, and alternate hosts. Furthermore, by combining a simplified polyethylene glycol-NaOH method for extracting DNA from plant samples, the entire RPA-PCRD strip assay enabled the detection of MoT within 30 min with no specialized equipment and high technical skills at ambient temperature (37-39 °C). When applied to field samples, it successfully detected MoT in naturally infected diseased wheat plants from seven different fields in a wheat blast hotspot district, Meherpur, Bangladesh. Training 52 diverse stakeholders validated the kit's field readiness, with 88% of trainees endorsing its user-friendly design. This method offers a practical, low-cost, and portable point-of-care diagnostic tool suitable for on-site genomic surveillance, integrated management, seed health testing, and quarantine screening of wheat blast in resource-limited settings. Furthermore, the RPA-PCRD platform serves as an early warning modular diagnostic template that can be readily adapted to detect a wide array of phytopathogens by integrating target-specific genomic primers.

Aspergillus fumigatus, a saprophytic fungus, causes aspergillosis, primarily affecting the immunocompromised. The efficacy of triazole antifungals is compromised by resistance that has developed both clinically and environmentally. Widespread agricultural use of similar triazole fungicides selects for resistant genotypes, leading to potential food contamination and compromising treatment. This study assessed the presence of azole-resistant A. fumigatus in minimally processed food items commonly consumed in Brazil. A total of 25 commercial samples, including black pepper, yerba mate, and green coffee beans, were collected from different regions. Forty-two A. fumigatus isolates were recovered and screened for susceptibility to agricultural and clinical triazoles by determining EC₅₀ values for tebuconazole (0.04-0.7 µg/mL), itraconazole (0.06-0.5 µg/mL), and voriconazole (0.07-0.15 µg/mL). Sequence analysis of the CYP51A gene revealed the presence of M172V mutation, none of which are associated with resistance. Microsatellite genotyping indicated high genotypic diversity and genetic relatedness among isolates from different food sources. Although no azole-resistant phenotypes were identified, the consistent recovery of A. fumigatus from products not directly exposed to azole fungicides highlights the need for continued surveillance. Agricultural environments remain critical hotspots for the emergence and dissemination of resistance, reinforcing the importance of integrated One Health strategies in antifungal resistance monitoring.

Panax notoginseng, a high-value medicinal crop, suffers substantial yield losses due to Fusarium oxysporum-mediated root rot, for which no molecularly defined control targets are currently available. Histone acetyltransferases (HATs) serve as crucial epigenetic regulators of fungal development and stress responses; however, their functional roles in F. oxysporum remain largely unexplored. In this study, we systematically identified six FoHAT genes via genome-wide analysis and classified them into evolutionarily conserved subfamilies through phylogenetic comparison with orthologs from Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Homo sapiens, and Arabidopsis thaliana. Structural analyses revealed distinct motif compositions and domain architectures among FoHAT members, while promoter cis-element profiling suggested potential subfunctionalization via stress-responsive regulatory mechanisms. Functional investigations demonstrated that major notoginsenosides present in P. notoginseng root exudates-R₁, Rg₁, Rg₂, Re, and Rd-dynamically influenced both spore germination and FoHAT expression profiles. Intriguingly, each notoginsenoside exerted concentration-dependent non-linear effects on spore germination, either inhibiting or promoting the process. Concurrently, notoginsenoside exposure triggered compensatory transcriptional responses, most notably a rebound in Fo-Hat1_N expression from 9% to 112% under Rd treatment. This work establishes an initial epigenetic framework for combating Fusarium root rot in medicinal plants and offers a foundation for developing HAT-targeted small-molecule inhibitors.