Article
Microbiology
Jing Wang, Chengjun Li, Pengyu Song, Rui Qiu, Ruifang Song, Xiaojie Li, Yunxia Ni, Hui Zhao, Hongyan Liu, Shujun Li
Summary: We identified and characterized a mycovirus named Fusarium oxysporum mymonavirus 1 (FoMyV1) from the phytopathogenic fungus Fusarium oxysporum. The genome of FoMyV1 has a length of 10,114 nucleotides and contains five non-overlapping open reading frames (ORFs). The largest ORF encodes a polypeptide with high amino acid identity to other mymonaviruses and also shares similarity with proteins of mynonaviruses that infect other phytopathogenic fungi. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that FoMyV1 belongs to the genus Hubramonavirus in the family Mymonaviridae. FoMyV1 can be transmitted through hyphal anastomosis and affects the growth and conidium production of its fungal host.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
James C. Fulton, B. Sajeewa Amaradasa, Tuelin S. Ertek, Fanny B. Iriarte, Tatiana Sanchez, Pingsheng Ji, Mathews L. Paret, Owen Hudson, Md. Emran Ali, Nicholas S. Dufault
Summary: This study investigated the pathogen population structure of Fusarium wilt of watermelon in Florida using multilocus sequence analysis, showing that using highly conserved housekeeping genes and loci did not clearly group and delineate different Fon races. Additionally, there were significant variations in aggressiveness among different isolates, indicating the need for future whole genome sequencing efforts to provide higher resolution of genetic distinctions within the species.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Maisa Santos Fonseca, Daniela Meria Rodrigues, Ana Rita Sokolonski, Danijela Stanisic, Luiz Marcelo Tome, Aristoteles Goes-Neto, Vasco Azevedo, Roberto Meyer, Danilo Barral Araujo, Ljubica Tasic, Ricardo Dias Portela
Summary: This study evaluated the activity of Fusarium oxysporum-based silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on Candida spp. isolated from denture stomatitis lesions and investigated their interference on biofilm formation and mechanisms of action. The results showed that AgNPs were effective against most Candida spp. and could potentially be a new therapeutic agent against oral candidiasis.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Mariska R. Greeff-Laubscher, Karin Jacobs
Summary: This study characterized the Fusarium species isolated from stranded post-hatchling loggerhead sea turtles in South Africa. The isolated strains showed high similarity with Fusarium isolates associated with high egg mortality rates in loggerhead sea turtles, indicating potential harm to the turtles.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Minna Haapalainen, Emilia Laitala, Sari Ramo, Satu Latvala
Summary: The pathogenicity and toxin production of Fusarium oxysporum isolates can vary depending on their origin and genetic characteristics. Different isolates may exhibit different levels of virulence and toxin production, affecting disease severity in onion cultivation. Coinfection with pathogenic and non-pathogenic isolates may lead to more severe disease outcomes in mature onion bulbs.
ANNALS OF APPLIED BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jinshao Li, Ke He, Qian Zhang, Xiaoyi Wu, Zhong Li, Xuejun Pan, Yong Wang, Cheng Li, Manman Zhang
Summary: In this study, we investigated the biological and genomic characteristics of two pathogenic fungi, Fusarium oxysporum (strain QK8) and F. solani (strain SX13), which cause brown rot disease in Gastrodia elata crops. We found their optimal growth conditions and conducted indoor tests to evaluate their virulence. Moreover, we assembled and analyzed the genomes of these two strains and compared them with existing data. These findings lay the groundwork for further research on G. elata brown rot disease.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Mudzuli Nephalela-Mavhunga, Grace T. Kwinda, Brett A. Summerell, Eduard Venter, Adriaana Jacobs
Summary: This study focused on 355 F. oxysporum isolates from soils with low anthropogenic activity in the grassland biome of South Africa, revealing high levels of sequence type diversity within the soil population. Phylogenetic analysis showed that four isolates nested within FOSC Glade 1, highlighting the genetic diversity of FOSC populations in natural systems.
Article
Plant Sciences
Meagan van Dyk, Christoffel F. J. Spies, Lizel Mostert, Marieta van der Rijst, Ihan L. du Plessis, Providence Moyo, Wynand J. van Jaarsveld, Francois Halleen
Summary: A recent survey in South Africa identified several fungi associated with olive trunk disease symptoms, some of which had not been reported before. Pathogenicity tests were conducted to determine the virulence of these species, with some showing significant lesions on olive branches. Pseudophaeomoniella globosa was identified as one of the main olive trunk pathogens due to its high incidence and virulence in trials.
Article
Microbiology
Ofir Degani, Ben Kalman
Summary: The study evaluated commercial chemical fungicides as control treatments against onion basal rot disease pathogens. Prochloraz showed the most promising effect, significantly reducing disease symptoms in Noam cultivars' seedlings, with no impact on seed germination and early growth.
Article
Plant Sciences
Afrasa Mulatu, Negussie Megersa, Demelash Teferi, Tesfaye Alemu, Ramesh Raju Vetukuri
Summary: Coffee wilt disease is a serious threat to small-scale farmers in Ethiopia, and there are currently no effective control measures available. This study developed and evaluated biofungicides derived from Trichoderma species against the causative agent of the disease. The results showed that T. asperellum AU131 and T. longibrachiatum AU158 have high biocontrol efficacy.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Jiaqi Zheng, Liyao Wang, Wenchao Hou, Yuzhu Han
Summary: In this study, it was found that Fusarium oxysporum was responsible for Fusarium wilt in Pennisetum sinese in Chongqing, China, marking the first report of such infection worldwide. The identification was based on morphological characteristics and DNA sequences of multiple genes.
Article
Plant Sciences
Yuhan Liu, Yuhui Chen, Hengke Jiang, Zhaowei Shui, Yujun Zhong, Jing Shang, Hui Yang, Xin Sun, Junbo Du
Summary: In this study, 27 RALFs were identified and characterized in the soybean genome, with analyses conducted on their gene structures, conserved motifs, and other features. The study also found associations between these RALFs and soybean's disease resistance and growth development.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Meike S. Kruger, Natsumi Kanzaki, Robin M. Giblin-Davis, Jaco M. Greeff
Summary: Limited attention has been given to the nematodes of figs and fig wasps in Africa since their discovery in 1973. A study in South Africa sampled 16 out of 25 native fig species for nematode associates, identifying 33 putative nematode species. The main nematode families found were Aphelenchoididae and Diplogastridae, with distinct distributions based on specific fig plant classifications.
Article
Plant Sciences
Yi Zhu, Abdelraheem Abdelraheem, Phillip Lujan, John Idowu, Patrick Sullivan, Robert Nichols, Tom Wedegaertner, Jinfa Zhang
Summary: The study conducted a field survey in three southern counties of New Mexico and identified FOV4, a threat to cotton production, with different levels of virulence. Different cotton cultivars showed varying degrees of resistance to FOV4.
Article
Virology
Caiyi Wen, Xinru Wan, Yuanyuan Zhang, Hongyan Du, Chenxing Wei, Rongrong Zhong, Han Zhang, Yan Shi, Jiatao Xie, Yanping Fu, Ying Zhao
Summary: FoAV1, a mycovirus infecting Fusarium oxysporum, contains four dsRNA segments and is classified as a novel member of Alternaviridae family.
Editorial Material
Plant Sciences
J. Aguayo, I. Cerf-Wendling, A. B. Folscher, C. Fourrier-Jeandel, R. Ioos, M. C. Mathews, D. Mostert, C. Renault, V. Wilson, A. Viljoen
Review
Agronomy
Elizabeth Dann, Adele McLeod
Summary: Phosphonic acid-based fungicides, or phosphonates, have been widely used as crop protectants in horticulture since the late 1970s, and recently in native ecosystems and forestry. Their effectiveness against difficult-to-manage foliar and soilborne diseases makes them crucial for protecting forests and sensitive ecosystems under threat from pathogens. Their versatility in agriculture and broader applications, along with continued research on efficacy, safety, and interactions, will support their continued use.
PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Janet N. Kimunye, Norman Muzhinji, Diane Mostert, Altus Viljoen, Aletta E. Bester-van der Merwe, George Mahuku
Summary: Genetic diversity of black Sigatoka pathogen in East Africa was analyzed using molecular markers, revealing moderate genetic diversity within subpopulations and evidence of both clonal and sexual reproduction. Breeding efforts for resistance to P. fijiensis in East Africa need to account for intrapopulation variation to select durable resistant banana cultivars.
Article
Plant Sciences
David M. Geiser, Abdullah M. S. Al-Hatmi, Takayuki Aoki, Tsutomu Arie, Virgilio Balmas, Irene Barnes, Gary C. Bergstrom, Madan K. Bhattacharyya, Cheryl L. Blomquist, Robert L. Bowden, Balazs Brankovics, Daren W. Brown, Lester W. Burgess, Kathryn Bushley, Mark Busman, Jose F. Cano-Lira, Joseph D. Carrillo, Hao-Xun Chang, Chi-Yu Chen, Wanquan Chen, Martin Chilvers, Sofia Chulze, Jeffrey J. Coleman, Christina A. Cuomo, Z. Wilhelm de Beer, G. Sybren de Hoog, Johanna Del Castillo-Munera, Emerson M. Del Ponte, Javier Dieguez-Uribeondo, Antonio Di Pietro, Veronique Edel-Hermann, Wade H. Elmer, Lynn Epstein, Akif Eskalen, Maria Carmela Esposto, Kathryne L. Everts, Sylvia P. Fernandez-Pavia, Gilvan Ferreira da Silva, Nora A. Foroud, Gerda Fourie, Rasmus J. N. Frandsen, Stanley Freeman, Michael Freitag, Omer Frenkel, Kevin K. Fuller, Tatiana Gagkaeva, Donald M. Gardiner, Anthony E. Glenn, Scott E. Gold, Thomas R. Gordon, Nancy F. Gregory, Marieka Gryzenhout, Josep Guarro, Beth K. Gugino, Santiago Gutierrez, Kim E. Hammond-Kosack, Linda J. Harris, Monika Homa, Cheng-Fang Hong, Laszlo Hornok, Jenn-Wen Huang, Macit Ilkit, Adriaana Jacobs, Karin Jacobs, Cong Jiang, Maria Del Mar Jimenez-Gasco, Seogchan Kang, Matthew T. Kasson, Kemal Kazan, John C. Kennell, Hye-Seon Kim, H. Corby Kistler, Gretchen A. Kuldau, Tomasz Kulik, Oliver Kurzai, Imane Laraba, Matthew H. Laurence, Theresa Lee, Yin-Won Lee, Yong-Hwan Lee, John F. Leslie, Edward C. Y. Liew, Lily W. Lofton, Antonio F. Logrieco, Manuel S. Lopez-Berges, Alicia G. Luque, Erik Lysoe, Li-Jun Ma, Robert E. Marra, Frank N. Martin, Sara R. May, Susan P. McCormick, Chyanna McGee, Jacques F. Meis, Quirico Migheli, N. M. I. Mohamed Nor, Michel Monod, Antonio Moretti, Diane Mostert, Giuseppina Mule, Francoise Munaut, Gary P. Munkvold, Paul Nicholson, Marcio Nucci, Kerry O'Donnell, Matias Pasquali, Ludwig H. Pfenning, Anna Prigitano, Robert H. Proctor, Stephane Ranque, Stephen A. Rehner, Martijn Rep, Gerardo Rodriguez-Alvarado, Lindy Joy Rose, Mitchell G. Roth, Carmen Ruiz-Roldan, Amgad A. Saleh, Baharuddin Salleh, Hyunkyu Sang, Maria Mercedes Scandiani, Jonathan Scauflaire, David G. Schmale, Dylan P. G. Short, Adnan Sisic, Jason A. Smith, Christopher W. Smyth, Hokyoung Son, Ellie Spahr, Jason E. Stajich, Emma Steenkamp, Christian Steinberg, Rajagopal Subramaniam, Haruhisa Suga, Brett A. Summerell, Antonella Susca, Cassandra L. Swett, Christopher Toomajian, Terry J. Torres-Cruz, Anna M. Tortorano, Martin Urban, Lisa J. Vaillancourt, Gary E. Vallad, Theo A. J. van der Lee, Dan Vanderpool, Anne D. van Diepeningen, Martha M. Vaughan, Eduard Venter, Marcele Vermeulen, Paul E. Verweij, Altus Viljoen, Cees Waalwijk, Emma C. Wallace, Grit Walther, Jie Wang, Todd J. Ward, Brian L. Wickes, Nathan P. Wiederhold, Michael J. Wingfield, Ana K. M. Wood, Jin-Rong Xu, Xiao-Bing Yang, Tapani Yli-Mattila, Sung-Hwan Yun, Latiffah Zakaria, Hao Zhang, Ning Zhang, Sean X. Zhang, Xue Zhang
Summary: The debate over the classification of the Fusarium genus in recent years has focused on whether the FSSC should be included in Fusarium, but molecular phylogenetic research has shown strong support for the monophyly of Fusarium including the FSSC, which is considered the best taxonomic option available.
Article
Plant Sciences
Elma Carstens, Celeste C. Linde, Paul H. Fourie, Aletta E. Bester-van der Merwe, Shaun D. Langenhoven, Adele McLeod
Summary: Citrus black spot (CBS) caused by Phyllosticta citricarpa is a global disease affecting citrus. Research in two lemon orchards in South Africa found that while sexual reproduction may be the primary mode of transmission, a significant role of asexual reproduction was also observed. Predominant genotypes were identified in both orchards causing a large percentage of fruit infections. Distance was not found to be a reliable predictor of genetic substructuring, with significant genetic differentiation observed between the two orchards.
Article
Plant Sciences
M. Nyoni, M. Mazzola, J. P. B. Wessels, A. McLeod
Summary: The study showed that different phosphonate application methods were equally effective at increasing trunk diameter and yield in apple orchards. However, there were no significant differences in terms of root phosphite concentrations, soil and root pathogen inoculum levels among the treatments.
Article
Microbiology
Khonesavanh Chittarath, Chung Huy Nguyen, Wendy C. Bailey, Si-Jun Zheng, Diane Mostert, Altus Viljoen, Anthony Fredrick Tazuba, Walter Ocimati, Elizabeth Kearsley, Tran Yen Chi, Nguyen Thi Tho, Nguyen Tien Hung, Miguel Dita, Trushar Shah, Margaret Karanja, George Mahuku, Guy Blomme
Summary: Fusarium wilt, caused by the fungus Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (Foc), is a significant threat to global banana production. The tropical race 4 (TR4) variant of Foc is highly virulent and mainly affects Cavendish bananas. Recent surveys in Laos and Vietnam show that Foc TR4 is mainly restricted to the northern regions of these countries and is limited to Cavendish cultivation settings. The disease may have been introduced through infected planting material brought by Chinese companies. Clear communication efforts on disease epidemiology and management with emphasis on biosecurity practices need to be improved to prevent further spread.
Article
Mycology
Huoqing Huang, Xiaoxia Zhang, Yong Zhang, Ganjun Yi, Jianghui Xie, Altus Viljoen, Wei Wang, Diane Mostert, Gang Fu, Changcao Peng, Dandan Xiang, Chunyu Li, Siwen Liu
Summary: This study identified a GPI-anchored protein FocECM33 that plays a crucial role in the growth and pathogenicity of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense tropical race 4 (Foc TR4). FocECM33 was highly upregulated during the early infection process in banana roots and its disruption led to decreased hyphal growth, increased sensitivity to cell wall stresses, and reduced virulence. Transcription analysis revealed that FocECM33 influences the production of secondary metabolites and regulates biosynthetic processes in Foc TR4.
Article
Mycology
Evans Were, Jochen Schone, Altus Viljoen, Frank Rasche
Summary: This study reveals the potential mechanism of manipulating iron bioavailability in the banana rhizosphere to suppress Fusarium wilt. The results suggest that iron starvation induces the production of iron-scavenging secondary metabolites, called siderophores, by Foc TR4 as a counteractive mechanism to evade iron starvation.
Editorial Material
Plant Sciences
N. Zhan, M. Y. Kuang, C. Y. Li, S. W. Liu, G. M. Deng, A. Viljoen, G. J. Yi, O. Sheng
Article
Agronomy
Evans Were, Jochen Schone, Altus Viljoen, Frank Rasche
Summary: This study found that phenolic acids excreted by the roots of Desmodium uncinatum and Mucuna pruriens can inhibit the development and toxin synthesis of the banana wilt pathogen Foc TR4, thereby suppressing the disease.
Article
Plant Sciences
F. Halleen, M. Havenga, A. McLeod, L. Mostert
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Gerhardus J. van Coller, Frederik J. Kloppers, Vicky M. Coetzee, Toinette van Rooyen, Lindy J. Rose, Sandra C. Lamprecht, Altus Viljoen
Summary: Chemical control of Fusarium head blight (FHB), a yield-limiting and quality-reducing wheat disease, is effective in managing the disease in South Africa. The study evaluated the efficacy of foliar fungicides and seed treatments in reducing FHB incidence and increasing yield. Significant interactions were found between the seed treatments and fungicides, with certain combinations leading to decreased FHB incidence and increased yield. Future research should focus on integrating chemical control with host resistance for optimal results.
SOUTH AFRICAN JOURNAL OF PLANT AND SOIL
(2022)
Review
Agronomy
Evans Were, Altus Viljoen, Frank Rasche
Summary: Fusarium wilt, caused by the soilborne fungus Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (Foc), is a devastating disease affecting global banana production. Understanding the below-ground interactions in the banana rhizosphere is crucial for managing Fusarium wilt effectively.
Article
Agronomy
Adele McLeod, Zizipho Hamza, Maritha H. Schoeman, Lindani Moyo, Olufemi A. Akinsanmi
Summary: This study investigated the temporal pattern of Phytophthora cinnamomi colonization in macadamia tree roots and found that different seasons and types of feeder roots influenced the pathogen colonization levels.
