Cochliobolus carbonum race 1 produces a cyclic tetrapeptide HC-toxin, which is necessary for its exceptional virulence on certain varieties of maize. Previous genetic analysis of HC-toxin production by the fungus has indicated that a single genetic locus controls HC-toxin production. Enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of HC-toxin have been sought by following the precedents established for th...

ABSTRACT Sheath blight is one of the most important and intractable diseases of rice (Oryza sativa) where limited control has been achieved using traditional approaches. Quantitative inheritance, extraneous traits, and environmental factors confound genetic analysis of host resistance. A method was developed to isolate and utilize a phytotoxin from Rhizoctonia solani to investigate the genetics...

Weed management is the major biological constraint in paddy (Oryza sativa L.) producing areas. Predominantly, barnyard grass (Echinochloa crus-galli) a rice-mimicking weed that causes 57% of yield loss rice production. Conventionally, herbicides are site-specific inhibitors often used to suppress E. crus-galli growth. Acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACCase) an important target for developing novel with...

Secondary metabolites have a great potential as pharmaceuticals, but there are only a few examples where regulation of gene cluster expression has been correlated with ecological and physiological relevance for the producer. Here, signals, mediators, and biological effects of terrein production were studied in the fungus Aspergillus terreus to elucidate the contribution of terrein to ecological...