Over the last years the role of fungal endophytes in plant biology has been extensively studied. A number of species were shown to positively affect plant growth and fitness, thus attempts have been made to utilize these microorganisms in agriculture and phytoremediation. Plant-fungi symbiosis requires multiple metabolic adjustments of both of the interacting organisms. The mechanisms of these ...

Like in other eukaryotic organisms, mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase cascades play important roles in response to host and environmental signals in fungal pathogens. In general, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) is activated by phosphorylation at the well-conserved threonine-x-tyrosine (TXY) motif by mitogen-activated protein kinase (MEK), which is in turn activated by mitogen-activ...

Fungal pathogens derive nutrition from the plants they invade. Some fungi can subvert plant defence responses such as programmed cell death to provide nutrition for their growth and colonisation. Secondary metabolite toxins produced by fungi often play a role in triggering these responses. Knowledge of the biosynthesis of these toxins, and the availability of fungal genome sequences and gene di...

Plant-pathogenic fungi include a very large and heterogeneous group of organisms that occupy positions of great importance in both agriculture and natural plant communities. They show an enormous diversity in life-history strategies and the ways in which they interact with their hosts. These interactions range from species that establish perennial, systemic infections that castrate their hosts ...

Infection structures of phytopathogenic fungi are modified hyphae specialized for the invasion of plant tissues. Initial events are adhesion to the cuticle and directed growth of the germ tube on the plant surface. At the site of penetration, appressoria are often formed that may have melanized walls and develop high turgor pressure to support the penetration process. The penetration hypha accu...

Bacillus coagulans TQ33 is isolated from the skimmed milk powder and has a broad antifungal activity against pathogens such as Botrytis cinerea, Alternaria solani, Phytophthora drechsleri Tucker, Fusarium oxysporum and Glomerella cingulata. The characteristics of active antifungal substances produced by B. coagulans TQ33 and its antifungal effects against the growth of plant pathogenic fungi ha...

Although several strains of B. subtilis with antifungal activity have been isolated worldwide, to date there are no published reports regarding the isolation of a native B. subtilis strain from strawberry plants in Mexico. A native bacterium (Bacillus subtilis 21) demonstrated in vitro antagonistic activity against different plant pathogenic fungi. Under greenhouse conditions, it was shown that...

A common consequence of using agricultural fungicides is the development of resistance by fungal pathogens, which undermines reliability of fungicidal effectiveness. A potentially new strategy to aid in overcoming or minimizing this problem is enhancement of pathogen sensitivity to fungicides, or "chemosensitization." Chemosensitization can be accomplished by combining a commercial fungicide wi...

Diaporthe (Phomopsis) species have often been reported as plant pathogens, non-pathogenic endophytes or saprobes, commonly isolated from a wide range of hosts. The primary aim of the present study was to resolve the taxonomy and phylogeny of a large collection of Diaporthe species occurring on diverse hosts, either as pathogens, saprobes, or as harmless endophytes. In the present study we inves...