Fungal biology最新文献

{"title":"Deciphering the regulatory mechanisms of color formation in Naematelia sinensis fruiting bodies through multi-omics approaches","authors":"Yukang Zeng ,&nbsp;Zhenhui Shen ,&nbsp;Yao Cao ,&nbsp;Xiangying Luo ,&nbsp;Linlei Yang ,&nbsp;Qingqing Lu ,&nbsp;Rongchun Li","doi":"10.1016/j.funbio.2025.101667","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.funbio.2025.101667","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Naematelia sinensis</em> fruiting bodies, a complex composed of <em>Naematelia sinensis</em> and <em>Stereum hirsutum</em>, exhibit unique characteristics due to the symbiosis of these two fungi and their distinct color features. However, the regulatory mechanisms underlying the coloration of <em>N. sinensis</em> fruiting bodies and the interactions between the two fungi remain poorly understood. In this study, we integrated transcriptomic and non-targeted metabolomic data from three variants of <em>N. sinensis</em> fruiting bodies—white fruiting bodies (control), yellow variant (treatment_1), and yellow fruiting bodies (treatment_2)—to investigate the relationship between the two fungi and color accumulation. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed that the transcriptomic and metabolomic data showed overlap between control and treatment_1 but a clear separation from treatment_2, indicating the reliability of the data. Integrated analysis of the transcriptome and metabolome has unveiled key metabolic pathways associated with pigment accumulation in <em>N. sinensis</em> fruiting bodies. These pathways include the biosynthesis of cofactors, phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan, as well as the metabolism of tryptophan. In riboflavin metabolism, one gene (<em>NAU27003364</em>) was identified in <em>N. sinensis</em>, while three genes (<em>STEHIDRAFT_95968</em>, <em>STEHIDRAFT_153579</em>, and <em>STEHIDRAFT_86958</em>) were identified in <em>S</em>. <em>hirsutum</em>. The quantification of riboflavin and qRT-PCR results also indicated that most of them exhibited differences. This study represents the first multi-omics investigation into the functional pathways underlying color transformation in the fruiting bodies of <em>N. sinensis</em>, elucidating the regulatory interactions between <em>N. sinensis</em> and <em>S</em>. <em>hirsutum</em>. Our findings provide a theoretical foundation for understanding the molecular mechanisms of color transformation and the selective cultivation of fungal strains.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12683,"journal":{"name":"Fungal biology","volume":"129 8","pages":"Article 101667"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145270435","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":"Effector molecules and pathogenicity-associated gene expression in Ascochyta rabiei","authors":"Mahmuda Binte Monsur,&nbsp;Ido Bar,&nbsp;Jonathan Wanderley Lawley,&nbsp;Rebecca Ford","doi":"10.1016/j.funbio.2025.101668","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.funbio.2025.101668","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The necrotrophic fungus <em>Ascochyta rabiei</em> poses a significant threat to chickpea cultivation worldwide, leading to severe yield losses and quality reduction. Understanding the molecular mechanisms behind the pathogenicity of <em>A. rabiei</em> is essential for developing effective management strategies. This study employed transcriptomic analyses to compare the gene expression profiles among two <em>A. rabiei</em> isolates with differing pathogenicity levels (highly pathogenic AR0231 and low pathogenic AR0225) during interaction of PBA HatTrick chickpea genotype at the early podding stage. PBA HatTrick is classified as moderately susceptible to <em>A. rabiei</em> based on field trial ratings from the GRDC National Variety Trials. Like most cultivated chickpea varieties, its resistance to <em>A. rabiei</em> is generally considered polygenic and quantitative in nature, with no major resistance gene identified to date. A total of 105 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, including 57 upregulated and 48 downregulated in AR0231. Notably, effector-related genes were prominent among the upregulated DEGs, including EKO05_0002468, a homolog of the CoNIS1 effector gene that suppresses plant immunity, and EKO05_0010552, a homolog of PsGIP2/PsGIP1 encoding a glucanase inhibitor that protects fungal cell walls from host enzymes. Additionally, EKO05_0001368, homologous to PesCDA/VdPDA1, encodes a chitin-binding effector linked to immune evasion. Downregulated DEGs included EKO05_0006947, a LysM-domain effector homolog implicated in masking fungal chitin from host detection. These findings provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms employed by <em>A. rabiei</em> during infection of mature chickpea tissue and highlight candidate genes for future research on improving chickpea resistance to Ascochyta blight.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12683,"journal":{"name":"Fungal biology","volume":"129 8","pages":"Article 101668"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145236617","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":"Two homeobox transcription factors CgrHtf1 and CgrAfh1 hierarchically regulate asexual sporulation and appressorium formation in the maize anthracnose fungus Colletotrichum graminicola.","authors":"Shuangzhen Zhou, Chenchen Guo, Wen Tang, Zhiqiang Liu, Xiaoyu Li","doi":"10.1016/j.funbio.2025.101637","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.funbio.2025.101637","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Maize anthracnose, caused by the fungal pathogen Colletotrichum graminicola, is among the most devastating diseases affecting maize production. Homeobox transcription factors (HTFs) regulate key developmental and physiological processes in eukaryotes, including fungal pathogenesis. In this study, we identified two HTFs, CgrHtf1 and CgrAfh1, in C. graminicola. Both CgrHtf1 and CgrAfh1 contain a conserved homeobox domain and exhibit distinct nuclear localization, consistent with their predicted roles as transcriptional regulators. Disruption of Cgrhtf1 sharply reduced conidial production while increasing melanin biosynthesis. In contrast, deletion of Cgrafh1 not only impaired conidiation but also abolished the formation of functional appressoria and hyphopodia. Notably, overexpression of Cgrafh1 enhanced appressorium formation compared to the wild-type strain, suggesting its crucial role in the morphogenesis of appressoria. Transcriptome analysis revealed that CgrHtf1 regulates many genes associated with melanin biosynthesis, fungal development and cell cycle control, while CgrAfh1 predominantly modulates the expression of genes linked to signal transduction, cell cycle progression and autophagy processes. Collectively, we demonstrate that CgrHtf1 controls conidiation and melanin biosynthesis, whereas CgrAfh1 governs appressorium development, revealing hierarchical regulation of infection-related morphogenesis in C. graminicola.</p>","PeriodicalId":12683,"journal":{"name":"Fungal biology","volume":"129 6","pages":"101637"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145015001","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 Biomod2 statistical and machine learning methods for Lactarius deliciosus distribution in Refahiye, Turkiye.","authors":"Daniela Cedano Giraldo, Derya Mumcu Kucuker","doi":"10.1016/j.funbio.2025.101638","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.funbio.2025.101638","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The spatial prediction of edible fungi is essential for the conservation and sustainable use of non-wood forest products (NWFPs) and contributes to the understanding of fungal biodiversity in forest ecosystems. This study compares multiple species distribution modeling (SDM) techniques to predict the spatial distribution of Lactarius deliciosus (L.) Gray in the Refahiye and Tekçam Forest Planning Units (FPUs) in Türkiye. Using the Biomod2 platform, we implemented five modeling algorithms: generalized linear models (GLM), multivariate adaptive regression splines (MARS), classification tree analysis (CTA), boosted regression trees (BRT), and random forests (RF). Among these, the RF model outperformed the others, demonstrating superior accuracy across all performance metrics, likely due to its ability to handle non-linear relationships, categorical predictor variables, and complex interactions without requiring extensive parameter tuning. The resulting RF-based suitability map provides valuable guidance for sustainable mushroom harvesting, forest management planning, and the conservation of mycological resources.</p>","PeriodicalId":12683,"journal":{"name":"Fungal biology","volume":"129 6","pages":"101638"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145014981","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":"Real-time matric potential dynamics in peat casings amended with wood fibre and bark, and their relationship to Agaricus bisporus yield and quality","authors":"E. Corbett ,&nbsp;H. Grogan ,&nbsp;B. McGuinness ,&nbsp;A. Tumbure ,&nbsp;G. Young ,&nbsp;M.T. Gaffney","doi":"10.1016/j.funbio.2025.101664","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.funbio.2025.101664","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Wood fibre, uncomposted bark and windrow-composted bark were tested in two replicate experiments at amendment rates of 30, 50 and 70 % v/v with commercial peat-based mushroom casing. Their performance in terms of crop yield and mushroom quality was compared to an industry standard peat-based control. Hydro-physical behaviour (i.e. matric potential) between casing treatments was monitored during the crop by recording matric potential (Ψ_m) using solid-state tensiometers. Emerging and developing mushrooms utilised casing-contained water resulting in decreasing Ψ_m during a ‘flush’. Differences in the magnitude and duration of Ψ_m evolution between treatments were correlated to mushroom cropping performance and quality metrics.</div><div>Wood fibre treatments closely matched peat-based controls in water availability and crop timing, with Ψm values showing a similar rate of decrease over each flush (not exceeding −34.4 kPa). Class A mushrooms from these treatments were likewise indistinguishable from the controls in yield and quality.</div><div>Conversely, bark-based casings diverged from peat-based control treatments with their timing and water dynamics strongly influenced by management conditions such as case-run length. Increasing rates of bark addition in some instances was correlated with incrementally delayed cropping (by as much as 4 days relative to control treatments). Additionally, the comparatively open pore-structure of bark containing treatments resulted in poor water retention, overpinning (during 1st flush) and pore-structure degradation over time, requiring careful crop management. A lack of available water occurred within these casing treatments (particularly in Trial 1, flush 2), was evidenced not only by the slow development of water-stressed mushrooms (e.g. premature opening, split stipes), but was also correlated with a pattern of stalling or halted Ψ_m evolution, as cropping progressed. Water stress in these casing treatments ultimately led to a higher relative proportion of Class B graded mushrooms. Averaged over two trials, Class B mushrooms constituted 53 % and 47 % of the total yield for uncomposted and composted bark respectively. Comparatively peat averaged just 24 %.</div><div>In order to maintain yield, crop timing and stagger similar to that of commercial peat-based casing, peat-amended treatments must demonstrate similar expression of hydro-physical behaviour as well as an ability to retain structure over repeated flushing and watering cycles. Herein, it is demonstrated that sensor-monitored Ψ_m evolution coincides with substantial variation in the growth and progression of the crop and consequently in the yield of harvested mushrooms.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12683,"journal":{"name":"Fungal biology","volume":"129 7","pages":"Article 101664"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145216743","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":"Wickerhamomyces anomalus is a predator of the Castanea spp. ink disease-causing oomycetes Phytophthora cinnamomi and P. xcambivora. Based on morphological evidence, a model illustrating a specific mode of action is provided","authors":"Mariana Amorim-Rodrigues ,&nbsp;Rogélio Lopes Brandão ,&nbsp;Fernanda Cássio ,&nbsp;Cândida Lucas","doi":"10.1016/j.funbio.2025.101663","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.funbio.2025.101663","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Phytophthora cinnamomi</em> and <em>P.</em> x<em>cambivora</em> are serious phytopathogens, namely causing root rot/ink in chestnut trees, which severely threatens this historical crop. Oomycetes produce mycelium but are hard to control with traditional fungicides or BCAs. Recent research revealed <em>Wickerhamomyces anomalus</em>, a yeast endophyte, as a strong antagonist of key pre- and post-harvest fungal pathogens in laboratory settings. This study shows it also inhibits <em>Phytophthora</em> growth. Microscopy revealed that <em>W. anomalus</em> cells adhere to and are found inside <em>Phytophthora</em> hyphae, accumulating within collapsed areas, possibly nourishing on hyphal contents. These interactions occur without the intervention of volatile compounds, siderophores, or hydrolytic enzymes, leaving hyphal walls intact. SEM and TEM of hyphae from <em>P. cinnamomi</em> when co-cultured with <em>W. anomalus</em> showed numerous intrahyphal structures formed in response to the yeast-imposed stress. Otherwise, the yeast shows polarised cells, nuclei fusion, irregularly numbered spores and intercellular bridges, indicating a disrupted reproductive cycle. This is consistent with <em>P. cinnamomi</em> and <em>W. anomalus</em> recognising each other's pheromones, triggering a mating-like response leading to the yeast's attachment and internalisation without damaging the hyphal cell wall. This <em>W. anomalus</em> specific mode-of-action, different from the ones previously reported, <em>s</em>uggests potential as a BCA for the pre-harvest management of <em>Phytophthora</em>.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12683,"journal":{"name":"Fungal biology","volume":"129 7","pages":"Article 101663"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145216744","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":"Molecular, morphophysiological, and pathogenic characterization of Colletotrichum isolates from strawberry plants in Santa Catarina, Brazil","authors":"Vanessa F. Soares ,&nbsp;Aline C. Velho ,&nbsp;Isabela M. Doria ,&nbsp;Antonio J. Andrello ,&nbsp;Mateus Brusco de Freitas ,&nbsp;Marciel J. Stadnik","doi":"10.1016/j.funbio.2025.101660","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.funbio.2025.101660","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Strawberry (<em>Fragaria × ananassa</em>) holds significant importance within the small fruits group of temperate climates. However, its high susceptibility to diseases, particularly anthracnose caused by <em>Colletotrichum</em> isolates, can severely limit production. This study aimed to identify and characterize <em>Colletotrichum</em> species causing strawberry anthracnose in Santa Catarina state, Brazil. Isolates were collected from strawberry plants exhibiting typical anthracnose symptoms on different plant parts, in both organic and conventional fields. A phylogenetic analysis was conducted using six loci, including actin (ACT), β-tubulin (TUB2), calmodulin (CAL), glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate-dehydrogenase (GAPDH), glutamine synthetase (GS), and nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS), to identify the <em>Colletotrichum</em> isolates. Morphological and cultural characteristics, including conidia size, shape, and sexual reproductive structures were assessed. Pathogenicity tests were performed on detached leaves, fruits, and whole plants of the cultivars (cvs.) Albion, Pircinque, and San Andreas. Additionally, lipolytic, lipase, and cutinase activities were evaluated. The multilocus phylogenetic analysis identified the isolates as <em>Colletotrichum nymphaeae</em>, <em>Colletotrichum siamense</em>, and <em>Colletotrichum karstii</em>. Six groups of colony color were observed. <em>Colletotrichum siamense</em> and <em>C. karstii</em> predominantly exhibited cylindrical conidia shapes, while most <em>C. nymphaeae</em> isolates were fusiform. Furthermore, the presence of sexual structures, such as asci and ascospores, was exclusively noted in <em>C. karstii</em>. Pathogenicity tests on leaves and fruits showed that all isolates caused leaf spots and fruit rot in the three tested cvs., except for two isolates of <em>C. nymphaeae</em> (M135 and M165), which did not cause leaf spots on the adaxial leaf surface of cultivar (cv.) San Andreas. Whole plant assays indicated that the isolates caused anthracnose symptoms on leaves, petioles, fruits, flowers, and crowns, with the most prominent symptoms on petioles and fruits. <em>Colletotrichum karstii</em> showed a three-fold higher halo diameter (10.2 mm), indicating increased lipolytic activity, while <em>C. nymphaeae</em> (M133) exhibited a twelve-fold higher lipase activity, and <em>C. siamense</em> had a twenty-eight-fold higher cutinase activity compared to controls. These findings provide new insights into the distribution and pathogenicity of <em>Colletotrichum</em> species causing strawberry anthracnose in Santa Catarina. The molecular, morphological, and enzymatic characterizations enhance our understanding of species-specific virulence factors, which can support the development of targeted disease management strategies for strawberry production.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12683,"journal":{"name":"Fungal biology","volume":"129 7","pages":"Article 101660"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145216742","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 OTAbZIP gene in regulating growth and OTA production in Aspergillus westerdijkiae fc-1 under osmotic stress","authors":"Yanling Ma ,&nbsp;Muyuan Zhuang ,&nbsp;Tanvir Ahmad ,&nbsp;Yuhong Yan ,&nbsp;Weitian Yuan ,&nbsp;Mingxuan Li ,&nbsp;Guangyou Tan ,&nbsp;Yingyao Deng ,&nbsp;Yang Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.funbio.2025.101662","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.funbio.2025.101662","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Ochratoxin A (OTA), a potent carcinogenic mycotoxin, is produced by fungi from the <em>Aspergillus</em> and <em>Penicillium</em> genera. Reducing OTA contamination in food remains a global challenge. Osmotic stress is a key factor that influencing fungal development and secondary metabolism, particularly in <em>Aspergillus</em> species. In this study, we explored regulatory role of the <em>OTAbZIP</em> gene, a bZIP-type transcription factor, in growth and OTA biosynthesis under varying NaCl-induced osmotic conditions. Using RNA-Seq and RT-qPCR, we analyzed the transcriptomic responses of wild-type (WT) and <em>ΔOTAbZIP</em> mutant strains of <em>Aspergillus westerdijkiae</em> fc-1 exposed to 0, 20, and 100 g/L NaCl. Deletion of <em>OTAbZIP</em> significantly altered the expression of genes involved in DNA replication, sugar metabolism, ribosome function, and arginine and proline metabolism. The <em>ΔOTAbZIP</em> mutant exhibited greater sensitivity to osmotic stress and lower expression of OTA biosynthetic genes (<em>otaA–D</em>) than the WT. Although components of the HOG-MAPK pathway (<em>Hog1</em>, <em>Gpd1</em>, <em>Cdc28</em>, and <em>Ctt1</em>) were differentially expressed, <em>OTAbZIP</em> deletion did not block <em>Hog1</em> activation, suggesting <em>OTAbZIP</em> may function in a distinct regulatory role upstream or parallel to this pathway. Overall, our findings highlight <em>OTAbZIP</em> as a key regulator of osmotic stress response and OTA biosynthesis in <em>A. westerdijkiae</em>, offering potential molecular targets to reduce OTA contamination in food and feed.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12683,"journal":{"name":"Fungal biology","volume":"129 7","pages":"Article 101662"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145216745","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":"Around the world in eight white rot species: Assessment of enzymatic and non-enzymatic wood decay pathways of worldwide Esca Complex of Diseases (ECD) associated basidiomycetes","authors":"Alessandro Puca ,&nbsp;Samuele Moretti ,&nbsp;Mary-Lorène Goddard ,&nbsp;Jacques Lalevée ,&nbsp;Hanns-Heinz Kassemeyer ,&nbsp;Sibylle Farine ,&nbsp;Laura Mugnai ,&nbsp;Christophe Bertsch","doi":"10.1016/j.funbio.2025.101661","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.funbio.2025.101661","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Esca Complex of Diseases (ECD) is widespread in viticultural areas worldwide, posing a serious risk to modern viticulture. The role of basidiomycetes in the onset of foliar symptoms has recently been reconsidered, highlighting a link between the reduction in these symptoms and the presence of <em>Fomitiporia mediterranea</em> in vines. As several basidiomycetes have been associated with wood decay in grapevine, understanding their degradation mechanisms could help unravel the role of wood degradation in ECD. Thus, a collection of ECD-associated basidiomycetes, including <em>F. capensis</em>, <em>F. langloisii</em>, <em>F. polymorpha</em>, <em>F. australiensis</em>, <em>Tropicoporus texanus</em>, <em>Inonotus vitis</em>, and <em>Stereum hirsutum</em>, was examined in addition to <em>F. mediterranea</em>. Our study investigates the production and activity of lignocellulosic enzymes (particularly class-II peroxidases and laccases), along with the low molecular weight compounds (LMWC) in the secretome of these fungi, to assess their ability to perform the Chelator-Mediated-Fenton (CMF) pathway. Results highlight the production of ligninolytic enzymes with low production of active manganese peroxidases and a virtually total absence of lignin peroxidase activity. Additionally, the study confirms that the CMF mechanism is widespread among these fungi, with all LMW secretomes fulfilling the required steps of the CMF mechanism. This study provides critical insights into the degradation strategies of ECD-associated white rot agents, offering potential new perspectives on studying ECD symptomatology and developing targeted control strategies. The findings emphasize the need to consider the CMF mechanism in the context of fungal wood degradation and its potential role in ECD development.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12683,"journal":{"name":"Fungal biology","volume":"129 7","pages":"Article 101661"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145266577","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":"Penicillium rubens, a root fungal endophyte, increase stress tolerance and productivity in crops under drought stress","authors":"Cristian Atala ,&nbsp;Ian S. Acuña-Rodríguez ,&nbsp;Sebastián A. Reyes ,&nbsp;Marco A. Molina–Montenegro","doi":"10.1016/j.funbio.2025.101659","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.funbio.2025.101659","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Mutualistic interactions with fungal endophytes are a promising strategy for enhancing plant stress tolerance and productivity. This study evaluated the impact of fungal endophytes on drought tolerance and productivity in lettuce (<em>Lactuca sativa</em>) and tomato (<em>Solanum lycopersicum</em>). Seedlings were grown under semi-controlled conditions with endophyte-treated (E+, inoculated with <em>Penicillium rubens</em>) and axenic (E−) plants subjected to three irrigation regimes. Productivity was measured as shoot biomass (lettuce) and fruit production (tomato). Drought tolerance was assessed via proline content, <em>NHX1</em> gene expression, and root biomass, summarized by an integrated tolerance index. Inoculated lettuce showed higher tolerance, productivity, and root biomass, with no trade-off between these traits. Inoculated tomatoes exhibited higher yields under both no-stress and severe-stress conditions, with overcompensation under high stress. The integrated tolerance index highlighted enhanced productivity and tolerance in inoculated plants, demonstrating fungal endophytes as a sustainable strategy to mitigate drought stress and maintain crop yields.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12683,"journal":{"name":"Fungal biology","volume":"129 7","pages":"Article 101659"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145045854","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}