Current Plant Biology最新文献

{"title":"Rice-Magnaporthe oryzae arms race: From effector diversification and NLR-mediated immunity to CRISPR-driven durable resistance","authors":"Muhammad Usama Younas,&nbsp;Muhammad Qasim,&nbsp;Irshad Ahmad,&nbsp;Shakal Khan Korai,&nbsp;Gulnaz bibi,&nbsp;Mukhammadjon Ergashev,&nbsp;Mohammed S. Alotaibi,&nbsp;Usman Zulfiqar,&nbsp;Mayank Anand Gururani","doi":"10.1016/j.cpb.2026.100659","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cpb.2026.100659","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Rice blast is a significant threat to global food security and is caused by the virulent fungal pathogen <em>Magnaporthe oryzae</em>, resulting in a loss of about 30 % of the annual yield. This review will present a synthesis of the molecular processes involved in the interaction between rice and <em>M. oryzae</em>, highlighting the evolutionary arms race between the host and the pathogen. The pathogen exploits the genomic plasticity and diversification of the effectors, to avoid being recognized by the host. In contrast, the host immune system operates through two interconnected defense layers: Pattern-triggered immunity (PTI), which serves as the first line of defense, and the effector-triggered immunity (ETI). ETI is mediated by specialized NLR (nucleotide-binding site–leucine-rich repeat) proteins that initiate rapid hypersensitive responses to restrict pathogen invasion. Although more than 146 resistance (R) genes have been described, the review mentions that single-gene resistance is often unsuccessful because of the rapid evolution of pathogens. The transition to gene pyramiding and altering susceptibility (S genes, such as <em>pi21</em> and <em>bsr-d1,</em> is necessary. Elaborate breeding techniques have also come to depend on the CRISPR/Cas9 system to perform precise multi-locus stacking and disruption of negative regulators, so as to obtain a more durable and broad-spectrum resistance without loss of any yield. Moreover, predictive receptor-effector structure prediction with the aid of artificial intelligence applications like AlphaFold3, combined with pangenomics to harness the lost genetic diversity, is making rice enhancement a predictive, data-oriented science. The review eventually recommends an integrative model that combines multiomics, digital phenotyping, and computational intelligence, to protect the world's rice production under the pressure of the changed environment and pathogens.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":38090,"journal":{"name":"Current Plant Biology","volume":"49 ","pages":"Article 100659"},"PeriodicalIF":5.1,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148935698","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"CRISPR/Cas9-based targeted Lipoxygenase-2 gene editing in mungbean via transient transformation assays","authors":"Dipak Khanal,&nbsp;Sudip Biswas,&nbsp;Waltram Ravelombola,&nbsp;Michael J. Thomson,&nbsp;Endang M. Septiningsih","doi":"10.1016/j.cpb.2026.100637","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cpb.2026.100637","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Lipoxygenase 2</em> converts polyunsaturated fatty acids into volatile compounds, imparting an undesirable beany flavor to processed mungbean products. This experiment aims to assess the suitability of CRISPR/Cas9-based genetic modification of mungbean using protoplasts and agroinfiltration transient transformation assays. Robust and viable protoplasts were isolated using the tape sandwich method. Protoplast transfection was carried out using 40% PEG. A binary CRISPR/Cas9 construct targeting the <em>Lipoxygenase 2</em> gene was agroinfiltrated into the abaxial leaf surface of two-week-old seedlings. Higher protoplast yield was obtained from fully grown, unifoliate leaves from 7-day-old seedlings compared to 12-day-old seedlings. The CaMV 35S promoter and CmYLCV are the best fits for transgene expression in mungbean and were selected for Cas9 and gRNA expression, respectively. Protoplast transformation with 5 min of PEG incubation achieved the highest transformation efficiency (∼55%), compared to 15 and 30 min of PEG incubation. Mutations were detected by linear amplicon sequencing of the PCR-amplified target region. Transformed protoplasts showed a combination of mutation types, primarily insertion/deletions, with some substitutions on all gRNA target sites. Additionally, robust RUBY pigmentation and GUS expression were obtained, indicating successful transient expression of T-DNA. In the agroinfiltration assay, mutations were detected at target sites guided by gRNA1 and gRNA2. Hence, an efficient method for assessing CRISPR/Cas9 activity in mungbean using protoplast transformation and agroinfiltration was established. This study provides a practical foundation for future efforts towards CRISPR/Cas9-mediated targeted modification of the <em>Lipoxygenase 2</em> gene via stable transformation to potentially reduce undesirable beany flavor in mungbean.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":38090,"journal":{"name":"Current Plant Biology","volume":"48 ","pages":"Article 100637"},"PeriodicalIF":5.1,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148500244","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Accumulation, metabolic effects, and mechanisms of toxicity of nickel in the microalga Chlorella sorokiniana","authors":"Milena Dimitrijević,&nbsp;Jelena Danilović Luković,&nbsp;Tanja Dučić,&nbsp;Giuliana Aquilanti,&nbsp;Murielle Salomé,&nbsp;Marina Stanić,&nbsp;Sylvain Bohic,&nbsp;Mima Jevtović,&nbsp;Snežana Kovačević,&nbsp;Miloš Opačić,&nbsp;Bernd Zechmann,&nbsp;Jon K. Pittman,&nbsp;Ivan Spasojević,&nbsp;Milan Žižić","doi":"10.1016/j.cpb.2026.100644","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cpb.2026.100644","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Nickel (Ni) contamination is a serious threat to aquatic ecosystems. The application of freshwater green microalgae that show capacity to sequester this metal, such as <em>Chlorella sorokiniana</em>, in bioremediation, requires filling certain knowledge gaps. Herein, the response of <em>C. sorokiniana</em> to a high nominal concentration of Ni^2 + was examined at late exponential / early stationary growth phase. The fraction of Ni in the biomass reached a maximum of ∼6% within the first 24 h of exposure. Ni in the biomass remained in the 2 + redox form that was coordinated by (poly)phosphates and water molecules in distorted octahedral geometry within cluster structures in vacuoles, and by sulphated polysaccharides in the cell wall. In response to Ni²⁺ exposure, microalgae displayed altered cell wall structure with increased rigidity and reduced thickness and partial detachment of the outer layer. Metabolic responses to Ni²⁺ included decreased lipid reserves with reduced fatty acid saturation and substantial decrease in protein-glutathione adducts. Ni²⁺ induced increased intracellular generation of reactive oxygen species. However, this did not cause significant oxidative damage or antioxidant activation. We hypothesize that the inhibition of photosynthesis may be the main reason behind the toxic effects of Ni in this microalga. Photosynthetic activity could be a useful biomarker of Ni toxicity. Despite some toxicity, high intracellular Ni storage ability supports the bioremediation potential of <em>C. sorokiniana</em> biomass.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":38090,"journal":{"name":"Current Plant Biology","volume":"48 ","pages":"Article 100644"},"PeriodicalIF":5.1,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148500238","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Woody species suitable for naturalistic plantings have greater resprouting vigour and shoot recovery after coppicing","authors":"Lavinia Hsiao-Hsuan Chu,&nbsp;Christopher Szota,&nbsp;Stefan K. Arndt,&nbsp;Claire Farrell","doi":"10.1016/j.cpb.2026.100647","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cpb.2026.100647","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Naturalistic plantings using diverse woody species can be managed by coppicing (hard pruning), offering a low-maintenance alternative for urban greening. Shoot recovery is an important trait for such plantings, as dense canopies suppress weeds and enhance visual appeal. However, not all species recover lost biomass after coppicing, and species selection is further challenged by limited understanding of shoot recovery mechanisms. Using a common garden experiment with 67 Australian shrub and small tree species, we compared shoot biomass recovery, resource allocation and traits of coppiced plants relative to same-aged conspecific non-coppiced plants six months after coppicing. Coppiced plants produced twice as many stems but were shorter than non-coppiced plants. Shoot recovery increased weakly but significantly with resprouting vigour. While only 17 species fully recovered shoot biomass, 30 species recovered at least 50% of the biomass of non-coppiced plants within six months following coppicing. Species with greater shoot recovery showed co-ordinated increases in basal area, height, but decreases in root-to-shoot ratio after coppicing, relative to non-coppiced plants. Coppiced plants primarily relied on stem starch pool for shoot recovery, with recovery associated with replenishment of stem reserves, through increases in post-coppicing basal area and height. In contrast, increases in stem number, leaf area ratio, and specific leaf area after coppicing were unrelated to shoot recovery and likely reflected architectural responses to shoot loss. Selecting larger-sized juvenile woody species and scheduling coppicing during periods with sufficient water availability may enhance shoot recovery and support the long-term success of low-maintenance naturalistic urban plantings managed by coppicing.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":38090,"journal":{"name":"Current Plant Biology","volume":"48 ","pages":"Article 100647"},"PeriodicalIF":5.1,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148640936","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Directed SiGaResNet: A supervised graph neural network framework for inferring stability-aware ABA-responsive gene regulatory networks via transcriptomic meta-analysis","authors":"Abbas Karimi-Fard","doi":"10.1016/j.cpb.2026.100641","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cpb.2026.100641","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Abscisic acid (ABA) is a central phytohormone coordinating plant adaptation to diverse abiotic stresses, yet a systems-level understanding of its underlying gene regulatory architecture remains incomplete due to transcriptomic heterogeneity and limited reproducibility across studies. Here, we performed a large-scale meta-analysis of publicly available transcriptomic datasets in <em>Arabidopsis thaliana</em> to identify conserved ABA-responsive genes and reconstruct a robust transcription factor (TF)-centered regulatory network. Following rigorous batch-effect correction and cross-study integration, we identified 681 high-confidence differentially expressed genes (FDR &lt; 0.05, |log₂FC= &gt; 2), with 69.5% showing induction under ABA treatment, including strong activation of <em>LTP4</em> (<em>AT5G59310</em>), and marked repression of <em>CYP712A2</em> (<em>AT5G06905</em>). Functional enrichment analysis revealed that upregulated genes were predominantly associated with abiotic stress adaptation, redox homeostasis, and lipid metabolic processes, whereas downregulated genes were enriched in pathways related to biotic defense and extracellular functions, indicating a regulatory trade-off during stress prioritization. Network reconstruction uncovered a coordinated TF-centric gene regulatory network comprising 391 nodes and 868 edges, characterized by balanced topology, significant TF enrichment, and prominent hub regulators such as <em>ANAC019</em>, <em>AtHB7</em>, <em>AtHB21</em>, and <em>AtTZF4</em>. Orthogonal in silico validation supported their relevance: promoter cis-regulatory element analysis showed enrichment of ABRE and other stress/hormone-related motifs (MeJA, SA, drought), while protein-protein interaction network analysis of their first-order interactors confirmed enrichment in canonical ABA signaling pathways. Compared with conventional variance-based network inference approaches, this integrative and phenotype-aware framework yielded enhanced stability and reduced topological bias, revealing a globally organized regulatory architecture underlying ABA signaling. Collectively, these findings provide biologically grounded insights into conserved transcriptional modules that integrate stress perception with downstream adaptive responses and offer candidate regulators for improving abiotic stress resilience in crops.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":38090,"journal":{"name":"Current Plant Biology","volume":"48 ","pages":"Article 100641"},"PeriodicalIF":5.1,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148525592","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Multi-omics dissection of mode-specific growth–defence reprogramming to insect herbivores in Populus hopeiensis","authors":"Qi Zhang,&nbsp;Shaobin Zhang,&nbsp;Ning Wang,&nbsp;Yue Bai","doi":"10.1016/j.cpb.2026.100643","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cpb.2026.100643","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>How woody perennials coordinate growth–defence reprogramming in response to herbivores with contrasting feeding modes remains insufficiently understood. Here, we integrated transcriptomic, metabolomic, and volatilomic analyses to compare the responses of <em>Populus hopeiensis</em> to chewing herbivory and piercing–sucking herbivory. Chewing and piercing–sucking treatments induced both shared and distinct defence-associated responses. Short-term chewing herbivory was associated with rapid transcriptional reprogramming towards defence, including jasmonate- and ethylene-related signalling, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades, phenylpropanoid/flavonoid metabolism, and repression of photosynthesis-related functions. In contrast, the 19 h piercing–sucking treatment was associated with broader transcriptomic and metabolic restructuring, particularly involving lipid- and amino acid-related pathways. Metabolomic data further indicated that chewing herbivory was more closely linked to phenylpropanoid- and flavonoid-associated metabolite changes, whereas piercing–sucking herbivory induced a wider metabolic response. Volatilomic profiling, which was performed only for the chewing treatments, identified characteristic volatile organic compound (VOC) changes, and co-expression analysis highlighted several WRKY and MYB transcription factors as candidate regulatory hubs. Overall, these results provide a multi-omics view of herbivory-associated growth–defence reprogramming in <em>P. hopeiensis</em> and identify candidate genes and pathways for future functional studies of insect resistance in woody plants.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":38090,"journal":{"name":"Current Plant Biology","volume":"48 ","pages":"Article 100643"},"PeriodicalIF":5.1,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148500239","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Integrated transcriptomics-metabolomics framework for predictive and translational biostimulant design: Insights into smart systems for sustainable agriculture","authors":"Manamele D. Mashabela,&nbsp;Nompumelelo R. Sibanyoni,&nbsp;Kamogelo Mmotla,&nbsp;Ian A. Dubery,&nbsp;Tarekegn Terefe,&nbsp;Tsanko Gechev,&nbsp;Msizi I. Mhlongo","doi":"10.1016/j.cpb.2026.100639","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cpb.2026.100639","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Despite robust commercial adoption of biostimulants, with a global market projected to reach USD 7.84 billion by 20230, the molecular mechanism by which these products modulate plant growth, stress tolerance, and crop performance remains poorly understood, particularly for the most widely adopted classes such as seaweed extracts (SWEs) and plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR). This review addresses this knowledge gap by synthesising current evidence for integrated transcriptomics-metabolomics approaches as a systems biology framework for decoding the biostimulant mode of action, primarily drawing on plant-specific case studies involving SWEs and PGPR. We provide a comprehensive end-to-end pipeline linking chemical characterisation, paired omics profiling, computational integration, and predictive modelling, which require experimental validation to establish causation, while addressing commercialisation pathways through omics-informed quality control, biomarker-based efficacy screening, intellectual property strategies, and regulatory compliance frameworks. Critical limitations remain that constrain progress, including substantial gaps in metabolite annotation with approximately 30–50% of the metabolome remaining uncharacterised, disconnects between transcript abundance and protein activity and downstream metabolite biosynthesis, the absence of standardised experimental and analytical protocols, limited transferability of greenhouse-derived biomarkers to field conditions, and high costs that restrict adoption of integrated omics approaches in resource-limited settings. Transitioning from empirical biostimulant screening toward predictive, mechanism-guided formulation design remains a future goal that will require streamlined integration strategies, multi-environment validation trials, standardised data reporting, and development of field-deployable omics platforms.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":38090,"journal":{"name":"Current Plant Biology","volume":"48 ","pages":"Article 100639"},"PeriodicalIF":5.1,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148500555","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Bacterial endophytes at the interface of plant physiology, stress adaptation, and microbiome engineering","authors":"Mehrdad Alizadeh,&nbsp;Dedat Prismantoro,&nbsp;Febri Doni,&nbsp;Hamed Azarbad","doi":"10.1016/j.cpb.2026.100636","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cpb.2026.100636","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Bacterial endophytes inhabit internal plant tissues, where they can influence plant nutrition, development, stress responses, and immunity. Yet their functional significance is often difficult to predict, because endophyte effects depend on colonization, tissue compartment, host genotype, and environmental context. Here, we synthesize current evidence on how bacterial endophytes contribute to plant performance through nutrient mobilization, hormone regulation, redox control, and pathogen suppression. We place particular emphasis on biocontrol, where antimicrobial metabolites, volatile compounds, hydrolytic enzymes, siderophores, quorum-sensing interference, and competition for space and nutrients operate as interacting processes rather than isolated traits. This distinction is important because many mechanisms related to endophytes are identified in culture or simplified assays, whereas their expression and causal contribution inside plant tissues remain context-dependent. We then examine how mechanistic knowledge can guide microbiome engineering through the selection of hub or keystone members, microbial consortia, seed-mediated transmission, and functional enhancement of bacterial strains. Across these approaches, successful use of bacterial endophytes will require cultivable and traceable strains, reliable host colonization, compatibility with native microbiomes, and stable performance under field conditions. By integrating physiological mechanisms with ecological constraints, this review reframes bacterial endophytes as context-dependent contributors to plant adaptation and outlines a route toward microbiome engineering strategies that are experimentally grounded and ecologically realistic.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":38090,"journal":{"name":"Current Plant Biology","volume":"48 ","pages":"Article 100636"},"PeriodicalIF":5.1,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148500242","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Cadmium uptake by potato roots disrupts plant ion homeostasis, induces oxidative stress and inhibits plant growth","authors":"Enriqueta Anticó,&nbsp;Dolors Company-Arumí,&nbsp;Katarina Vogel-Mikuš,&nbsp;Carla Sànchez-Guirado,&nbsp;Mitja Kelemen,&nbsp;Eva Marguí,&nbsp;Mònica Iglesias,&nbsp;Mercè Figueras,&nbsp;Olga Serra","doi":"10.1016/j.cpb.2026.100627","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cpb.2026.100627","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In this study, we used an integrated analytical approach to investigate early cadmium (Cd) stress responses in potato (<em>Solanum tuberosum</em>). Plant growth, root tip cell viability, and lipid peroxidation analyses were combined with bulk ionomics, root suberin chemistry, and spatially resolved elemental imaging by micro-particle induced X-ray emission (µ-PIXE) to link Cd uptake, nutrient homeostasis, tissue-level distribution, and physiological stress responses. Plants were exposed to 0, 50, and 200 µM Cd for short-term periods (1, 3, and 7 days) to capture pre-symptomatic and toxic phases of Cd stress. Cd was strongly retained in roots (4472–11,442 mg Cd Kg⁻¹), particularly in cortical tissues, and only weakly translocated to shoots (translocation factors 0.070–0.085). A pre-symptomatic phase was identified at 50 µM Cd after 3 days, as no growth inhibition or oxidative damage was detected under these conditions. Despite this, substantial ionomic changes were already observed, including marked reductions in several mineral nutrients, most notably copper (88% and 50% reduction in roots and shoots, respectively) and zinc (32% reduction in shoots), together with a 27% increase in root iron concentration. µ-PIXE analysis of root cross-sections revealed cortical enrichment of magnesium and zinc, as well as peripheral accumulation of iron and manganese. Although Cd exposure slightly altered suberin monomer composition, total suberin load remained unchanged (∼14 µg mg⁻¹). Together, these results show that early Cd stress responses in potato are characterized by rapid disruptions in mineral homeostasis prior to detectable oxidative damage or growth inhibition, while overall suberin deposition remains stable. This suggests that the initial response to Cd stress may rely primarily on functional regulation of pre-existing barrier properties and ion transport processes rather than on major structural remodeling. These findings provide a physiological framework for developing breeding and management strategies aimed at limiting Cd accumulation in potato crops.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":38090,"journal":{"name":"Current Plant Biology","volume":"48 ","pages":"Article 100627"},"PeriodicalIF":5.1,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148500243","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Fungal endophytes in biocontrol of plant fungal pathogens: Current landscape, mechanisms, drivers, bottlenecks, and future directions","authors":"K.M. Golam Dastogeer,&nbsp;Md. Safiul Hasan,&nbsp;Syed Mobarak Hosan Niloy,&nbsp;Mst. Masuda Khatun,&nbsp;Shah Md Tanverul Islam Alve,&nbsp;Samia Binta Zaman,&nbsp;Mst. Arjina Akter","doi":"10.1016/j.cpb.2026.100640","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cpb.2026.100640","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The escalating global concerns over chemical pesticide usage and increasing pest pressures under climate change underscore the urgent need for sustainable biocontrol strategies. Fungal endophytes have emerged as promising agents for managing fungal plant pathogens. However, a comprehensive synthesis specifically focused on fungal endophyte-mediated biocontrol of fungal diseases has been lacking. Here, we analyze 115 studies documenting fungal endophyte-mediated biocontrol across diverse crop diseases. Our analysis identifies <em>Trichoderma</em>, <em>Aspergillus</em>, <em>Fusarium</em>, <em>Penicillium</em>, <em>Colletotrichum</em>, and <em>Alternaria</em> as the most frequently investigated endophyte genera, with wheat, tomato, and grapevine as the most common sources. Herbaceous plants dominate as endophyte sources, while cultivated plants are sampled nearly twice as often as wild plants, revealing significant sampling biases. Root-derived endophytes are most frequently studied, whereas reproductive tissues remain underexplored despite their potential for vertical transmission. We provide a comprehensive overview of seven key biocontrol mechanisms: antibiosis, competition, induced systemic resistance, mycoparasitism, defense signaling modulation, volatile organic compound production, and growth-defense tradeoffs. Notably, 74% of studies report multifactorial mechanisms operating concurrently, underscoring the synergistic nature of endophyte-mediated protection. Critical translational gaps are identified: only 17% of studies have progressed to field validation, and single-strain applications dominate (64% of studies) while mixed consortia remain underoptimized. We also examine factors influencing biocontrol efficacy, including endophyte-host compatibility, environmental conditions, and plant genotype, alongside challenges in evaluation methods, field-scale assessments, long-term monitoring, and economic considerations. This review advances our understanding of fungal endophyte-mediated disease control and provides insights for developing sustainable agricultural technologies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":38090,"journal":{"name":"Current Plant Biology","volume":"48 ","pages":"Article 100640"},"PeriodicalIF":5.1,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148500556","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}