Fungi colonizing the soil and roots of tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum Mill.) plants treated with biological control agents

Tomato plants, cv. Rumba Ożarowska, grown in the greenhouse of the University of Warmia and Mazury, were protected in the form of alternate spraying (twice) and watering (twice) with 5% aqueous extracts of the following plant species: Aloe vulgaris Lam., Achillea millefolium L., Mentha piperita L., Polygonum aviculare L., Equisetum arvense L., Juglans regia L. and Urtica dioica L. Plants not treated with the extracts served as control. After fruit harvest, samples of roots and soil were collected. The roots were disinfected and next placed on PDA medium. Soil-colonizing fungi were cultured on Martin medium. Fungi were identified microscopically after incubation. Pathogenic fungal species, Colletotrichum coccodes, Fusarium equiseti, F. oxysporum and F. poae, accounted for over 60% of all isolates obtained from the roots of tomato plants. The soil fungal community was dominated by yeast-like fungi (75.4%), whereas pathogenic fungi were present in low numbers. The applied 5% aqueous plant extracts effectively reduced the abundance of fungi, including pathogenic species, colonizing tomato plants and soil. The extract from P. aviculare showed the highest efficacy, while the extract from J. regia was least effective. Fungi showing antagonistic activity against pathogens (Paecilomyces roseum and species of the genus Trichoderma) were isolated in greatest abundance from the soil and the roots of tomato plants treated with A. millefolium, M. piperita and U. dioica extracts.

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Risk of Fungal Infection to Dental Patients

The Scientific World JOURNAL ◽

10.1155/2017/2982478 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 2017 ◽

pp. 1-8 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Jaqueline Lopes Damasceno ◽

Rafael Aparecido dos Santos ◽

Amir Horiquini Barbosa ◽

Luciana Assirati Casemiro ◽

Regina Helena Pires ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Dental Treatment ◽

Pathogenic Fungi ◽

Fungal Species ◽

Immunocompromised Patients ◽

Dental Procedure ◽

Average Amount ◽

Dental Patients ◽

Dental Clinics ◽

Dental Equipment ◽

The University

Fungi can cause various diseases, and some pathogenic fungi have been detected in the water of dental equipment. This environment offers suitable conditions for fungal biofilms to emerge, which can facilitate mycological contamination. This study verified whether the water employed in the dental units of two dental clinics at the University of Franca was contaminated with fungi. This study also evaluated the ability of the detected fungi to form biofilms. The high-revving engine contained the largest average amount of fungi, 14.93 ± 18.18 CFU/mL. The main fungal species verified in this equipment belonged to the generaAspergillusspp.,Fusariumspp.,Candidaspp., andRhodotorulaspp. Among the isolated filamentous fungi, only one fungus of the genusFusariumspp. did not form biofilms. As for yeasts, all theCandidaspp. isolates grew as biofilm, but none of theRhodotorulaspp. isolates demonstrated this ability. Given that professionals and patients are often exposed to water and aerosols generated by the dental procedure, the several fungal species detected herein represent a potential risk especially to immunocompromised patients undergoing dental treatment. Therefore, frequent microbiological monitoring of the water employed in dental equipment is crucial to reduce the presence of contaminants.

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The effects of biological and chemical controls on fungal communities colonising tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) plants and soil

Folia Horticulturae ◽

10.2478/v10245-012-0002-4 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 24 (1) ◽

pp. 13-20 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Bożena Cwalina-Ambroziak ◽

Maciej Nowak

Keyword(s):

Biological Control ◽

Lycopersicon Esculentum ◽

Biological Control Agent ◽

Control Agent ◽

Fungal Communities ◽

Growth Promoter ◽

Tomato Plants ◽

Tomato Roots ◽

The University ◽

Fruit Harvest

The effects of biological and chemical controls on fungal communities colonising tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) plants and soil Tomato plants (Rumba Ożarowska cultivar) grown in the greenhouse of the University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn were treated with the biological control agent Polyversum WP, the growth promoter Biochikol 020 PC, the growth regulator Asahi SL, a mycorrhizal inoculum, and the fungicide Bravo 500 SC. Untreated plants served as the control. After fruit harvest, soil, stem and root samples were collected, and fungi were isolated in the laboratory. The applied biological and chemical control agents effectively reduced the abundance of fungi, including pathogenic species, colonising tomato plants and soil. The fungicide Bravo 500 SC showed the highest efficacy. Amongst the biological control agents, Biochikol 020 PC and the mycorrhizal inoculum were most effective in controlling stem colonisation by pathogens, while Polyversum WP offered the best protection of tomato roots and soil.

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The effects of biological control on fungal communities colonizing eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) organs and the substrate used for eggplant cultivation

Acta Agrobotanica ◽

10.5586/aa.2011.034 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 64 (3) ◽

pp. 79-86 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Bożena Cwalina-Ambroziak ◽

Maciej K. Nowak

Keyword(s):

Solanum Melongena ◽

Pathogenic Fungi ◽

Control Treatment ◽

Colletotrichum Coccodes ◽

Pathogenic Species ◽

Soil Community ◽

Soil Fungal Community ◽

The University ◽

Fruit Harvest ◽

Black Beauty

Eggplants, cv. Black Beauty, were grown in the greenhouse of the University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn. During the growing season, the plants were sprayed three times with Asahi SL, Biochikol 020 PC and Bravo 500 SC, they were watered with Polyversum, and a mycorrhizal inoculum was applied to the roots of seedlings. Unprotected plants, treated with distilled water, served as control. After fruit harvest, samples of the substrate used for eggplant cultivation, eggplant stems and roots were collected, and fungi were isolated in the laboratory. The fungal soil community was more abundant and diverse than the communities colonizing the stems and roots of eggplants. The applied biological and chemical control agents effectively reduced the abundance of fungi, including pathogenic species, in the organs of eggplants and the substrate used for eggplant cultivation. Potential pathogens (Alternaria alternata, Botrytis cinerea and Fusarium species) were isolated in high numbers from eggplant stems in the control treatment and in the Polyversum treatment (67%). The lowest number of potential pathogenic species were isolated from plants treated with the biostimulator Asahi SL, the fungicide Bravo 500 SC and the mycorrhizal inoculum. The population size of pathogenic fungi (Colletotrichum coccodes and Fusarium) isolated from eggplant roots was smaller, compared with stems, particularly in the treatments with the fungicide Bravo 500 SC and the biostimulator Biochikol 020 PC. The soil fungal community was dominated by yeast-like fungi (over 60% of all isolates). Fungi known as potential causal agents of diseases were found in low abundance, and they were not detected in substrate samples collected from under fungicide-treated eggplant plants.

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The Role of Fungi in the Cocoa Production Chain and the Challenge of Climate Change

Journal of Fungi ◽

10.3390/jof7030202 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (3) ◽

pp. 202

Author(s):

Johannes Delgado-Ospina ◽

Junior Bernardo Molina-Hernández ◽

Clemencia Chaves-López ◽

Gianfranco Romanazzi ◽

Antonello Paparella

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Fungal Infections ◽

Close Association ◽

Pathogenic Fungi ◽

Fungal Species ◽

Mitigation Strategies ◽

Plant Diseases ◽

Production Chain ◽

Cocoa Production

Background: The role of fungi in cocoa crops is mainly associated with plant diseases and contamination of harvest with unwanted metabolites such as mycotoxins that can reach the final consumer. However, in recent years there has been interest in discovering other existing interactions in the environment that may be beneficial, such as antagonism, commensalism, and the production of specific enzymes, among others. Scope and approach: This review summarizes the different fungi species involved in cocoa production and the cocoa supply chain. In particular, it examines the presence of fungal species during cultivation, harvest, fermentation, drying, and storage, emphasizing the factors that possibly influence their prevalence in the different stages of production and the health risks associated with the production of mycotoxins in the light of recent literature. Key findings and conclusion: Fungi associated with the cocoa production chain have many different roles. They have evolved in a varied range of ecosystems in close association with plants and various habitats, affecting nearly all the cocoa chain steps. Reports of the isolation of 60 genera of fungi were found, of which only 19 were involved in several stages. Although endophytic fungi can help control some diseases caused by pathogenic fungi, climate change, with increased rain and temperatures, together with intensified exchanges, can favour most of these fungal infections, and the presence of highly aggressive new fungal genotypes increasing the concern of mycotoxin production. For this reason, mitigation strategies need to be determined to prevent the spread of disease-causing fungi and preserve beneficial ones.

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Morpho-molecular identification and first report of Fusarium equiseti in causing chilli wilt from Kashmir (Northern Himalayas)

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-82854-5 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Ammarah Hami ◽

Rovidha S. Rasool ◽

Nisar A. Khan ◽

Sheikh Mansoor ◽

Mudasir A. Mir ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Dna Barcoding ◽

Pcr Amplification ◽

Its Region ◽

Fungal Species ◽

Pathogenicity Test ◽

Kashmir Valley ◽

Fusarium Equiseti ◽

Infected Root ◽

Fusarium Sp ◽

High Degree

AbstractChilli (Capsicum annuum L.) is one of the most significant vegetable and spice crop. Wilt caused by Fusarium Sp. has emerged as a serious problem in chilli production. Internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region is widely used as a DNA barcoding marker to characterize the diversity and composition of Fusarium communities. ITS regions are heavily used in both molecular methods and ecological studies of fungi, because of its high degree of interspecific variability, conserved primer sites and multiple copy nature in the genome. In the present study we focused on morphological and molecular characterization of pathogen causing chilli wilt. Chilli plants were collected from four districts of Kashmir valley of Himalayan region. Pathogens were isolated from infected root and stem of the plants. Isolated pathogens were subjected to DNA extraction and PCR amplification. The amplified product was sequenced and three different wilt causing fungal isolates were obtained which are reported in the current investigation. In addition to Fusarium oxysporum and Fusarium solani, a new fungal species was found in association with the chilli wilt in Kashmir valley viz., Fusarium equiseti that has never been reported before from this region. The studies were confirmed by pathogenicity test and re-confirmation by DNA barcoding.

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Chemical Composition and Antimicrobial Properties of Mentha × piperita cv. ‘Kristinka’ Essential Oil

Plants ◽

10.3390/plants10081567 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (8) ◽

pp. 1567

Author(s):

Ippolito Camele ◽

Daniela Gruľová ◽

Hazem S. Elshafie

Keyword(s):

Antifungal Activity ◽

Xanthomonas Campestris ◽

Fruits And Vegetables ◽

Antimicrobial Properties ◽

Pathogenic Fungi ◽

Cell Membrane Permeability ◽

Penicillium Expansum ◽

Mentha Piperita ◽

Plant Essential Oils ◽

Main Components

Several economically important crops, fruits and vegetables are susceptible to infection by pathogenic fungi and/or bacteria postharvest or in field. Recently, plant essential oils (EOs) extracted from different medicinal and officinal plants have had promising antimicrobial effects against phytopathogens. In the present study, the potential microbicide activity of Mentha × piperita cv. ‘Kristinka’ (peppermint) EO and its main constituents have been evaluated against some common phytopathogens. In addition, the cell membrane permeability of the tested fungi and the minimum fungicidal concentrations were measured. The antifungal activity was tested against the following postharvest fungi: Botrytis cinerea, Monilinia fructicola, Penicillium expansum and Aspergillus niger, whereas antibacterial activity was evaluated against Clavibacter michiganensis, Xanthomonas campestris, Pseudomonas savastanoi and P. syringae pv. phaseolicola. The chemical analysis has been carried out using GC-MS and the main components were identified as menthol (70.08%) and menthone (14.49%) followed by limonene (4.32%), menthyl acetate (3.76%) and β-caryophyllene (2.96%). The results show that the tested EO has promising antifungal activity against all tested fungi, whereas they demonstrated only a moderate antibacterial effect against some of the tested bacteria.

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Mitotic Recombination and Adaptive Genomic Changes in Human Pathogenic Fungi

Genes ◽

10.3390/genes10110901 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 10 (11) ◽

pp. 901 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Asiya Gusa ◽

Sue Jinks-Robertson

Keyword(s):

Fungal Pathogens ◽

Repetitive Sequences ◽

Pathogenic Fungi ◽

Genetic Alterations ◽

Fungal Species ◽

Chronic Infections ◽

Yeast Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽

Genomic Changes ◽

Break Site ◽

Repair Mechanisms

Genome rearrangements and ploidy alterations are important for adaptive change in the pathogenic fungal species Candida and Cryptococcus, which propagate primarily through clonal, asexual reproduction. These changes can occur during mitotic growth and lead to enhanced virulence, drug resistance, and persistence in chronic infections. Examples of microevolution during the course of infection were described in both human infections and mouse models. Recent discoveries defining the role of sexual, parasexual, and unisexual cycles in the evolution of these pathogenic fungi further expanded our understanding of the diversity found in and between species. During mitotic growth, damage to DNA in the form of double-strand breaks (DSBs) is repaired, and genome integrity is restored by the homologous recombination and non-homologous end-joining pathways. In addition to faithful repair, these pathways can introduce minor sequence alterations at the break site or lead to more extensive genetic alterations that include loss of heterozygosity, inversions, duplications, deletions, and translocations. In particular, the prevalence of repetitive sequences in fungal genomes provides opportunities for structural rearrangements to be generated by non-allelic (ectopic) recombination. In this review, we describe DSB repair mechanisms and the types of resulting genome alterations that were documented in the model yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The relevance of similar recombination events to stress- and drug-related adaptations and in generating species diversity are discussed for the human fungal pathogens Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans.

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Antagonistic activity of endophytic bacteria isolated from weed plant against stem end rot pathogen of pitaya in Vietnam

Egyptian Journal of Biological Pest Control ◽

10.1186/s41938-021-00362-0 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 31 (1) ◽

Author(s):

The Anh Luu ◽

Quyet Tien Phi ◽

Thi Thu Hang Nguyen ◽

Mai Van Dinh ◽

Bich Ngoc Pham ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Endophytic Bacteria ◽

Indole Acetic Acid ◽

Pathogenic Fungi ◽

Antagonistic Activity ◽

Biofilm Production ◽

Weed Plant ◽

Seedling Biomass ◽

Rot Disease ◽

Positive Results

Abstract Background Fungal stem end rot disease of pitaya caused by Alternaria alternata is one of the most destructive diseases in Binh Thuan province, Vietnam. This study aimed to assess the antagonistic effects of some endophytic bacteria isolated from the weed plant (Echinochloa colonum) against A. alternata. Results A total of 19 endophytic bacteria were isolated and 5 of them presented in vitro antagonistic activity against A. alternata. Of five, strain EC80 significantly inhibited the pathogenic growth with a mean inhibition diameter of 11.88 ± 0.08 mm, while the other four (C79, EC83, EC90, and EC97) showed a weak inhibition. Interestingly, the combination of EC79 and EC80 reduced more biomass of pathogenic fungi than the single one did. EC79 showed positive results for amylase, indole acetic acid (IAA), and biofilm production, whereas EC80 presented positive capabilities for IAA and biofilm production and a negative one for amylase production. In addition, the combined filtrate of EC79 and EC80 presented non-antifungal activity on biocontrol tests in vitro, indicating that bacteria cells played a role in defending against the pathogen. Moreover, both isolates EC79 and EC80 significantly increased seedling biomass than the control. Conclusions The results suggest that those two strains in combination had the potential to be used as a biocontrol agent against A. alternata. More studies should be done in the future to evaluate their efficiency under the field conditions.

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Biocontrol potential of Streptomyces sp. CACIS-1.5CA against phytopathogenic fungi causing postharvest fruit diseases

Egyptian Journal of Biological Pest Control ◽

10.1186/s41938-020-00319-9 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 30 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Zahaed Evangelista-Martínez ◽

Erika Anahí Contreras-Leal ◽

Luis Fernando Corona-Pedraza ◽

Élida Gastélum-Martínez

Keyword(s):

Pathogenic Fungi ◽

Phytopathogenic Fungi ◽

Antagonistic Activity ◽

Fruit Rot ◽

Main Body ◽

Type I ◽

Tropical Fruit ◽

Habanero Pepper ◽

Antagonistic Microorganisms

Abstract Background Fungi are one of the microorganisms that cause most damage to fruits worldwide, affecting their quality and consumption. Chemical controls with pesticides are used to diminish postharvest losses of fruits. However, biological control with microorganisms or natural compounds is an increasing alternative to protect fruits and vegetables. In this study, the antifungal effect of Streptomyces sp. CACIS-1.5CA on phytopathogenic fungi that cause postharvest tropical fruit rot was investigated. Main body Antagonistic activity was evaluated in vitro by the dual confrontation over fungal isolates obtained from grape, mango, tomato, habanero pepper, papaya, sweet orange, and banana. The results showed that antagonistic activity of the isolate CACIS-1.5CA was similar to the commercial strain Streptomyces lydicus WYEC 108 against the pathogenic fungi Colletotrichum sp., Alternaria sp., Aspergillus sp., Botrytis sp., Rhizoctonia sp., and Rhizopus sp. with percentages ranging from 30 to 63%. The bioactive extract obtained from CACIS-1.5 showed a strong inhibition of fungal spore germination, with percentages ranging from 92 to 100%. Morphological effects as irregular membrane border, deformation, shrinkage, and collapsed conidia were observed on the conidia. Molecularly, the biosynthetic clusters of genes for the polyketide synthase (PKS) type I, PKS type II, and NRPS were detected in the genome of Streptomyces sp. CACIS-1.5CA. Conclusions This study presented a novel Streptomyces strain as a natural alternative to the use of synthetic fungicides or other commercial products having antagonistic microorganisms that were used in the postharvest control of phytopathogenic fungi affecting fruits.

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Double Gamers—Can Modified Natural Regulators of Higher Plants Act as Antagonists against Phytopathogens? The Case of Jasmonic Acid Derivatives

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms21228681 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 21 (22) ◽

pp. 8681

Author(s):

Nicolò Orsoni ◽

Francesca Degola ◽

Luca Nerva ◽

Franco Bisceglie ◽

Giorgio Spadola ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Jasmonic Acid ◽

Plant Pathogens ◽

Higher Plants ◽

Fungal Growth ◽

Pathogenic Fungi ◽

Inhibitory Effect ◽

Fungal Species ◽

Phytopathogenic Fungi ◽

Phaeomoniella Chlamydospora ◽

Horticultural Crops

As key players in biotic stress response of plants, jasmonic acid (JA) and its derivatives cover a specific and prominent role in pathogens-mediated signaling and hence are promising candidates for a sustainable management of phytopathogenic fungi. Recently, JA directed antimicrobial effects on plant pathogens has been suggested, supporting the theory of oxylipins as double gamers in plant-pathogen interaction. Based on these premises, six derivatives (dihydrojasmone and cis-jasmone, two thiosemicarbazonic derivatives and their corresponding complexes with copper) have been evaluated against 13 fungal species affecting various economically important herbaceous and woody crops, such as cereals, grapes and horticultural crops: Phaeoacremonium minimum, Neofusicoccum parvum, Phaeomoniella chlamydospora, Fomitiporia mediterranea, Fusarium poae, F. culmorum, F. graminearum, F. oxysporum f. sp. lactucae,F. sporotrichioides, Aspergillus flavus, Rhizoctonia solani,Sclerotinia spp. and Verticillium dahliae. The biological activity of these compounds was assessed in terms of growth inhibition and, for the two mycotoxigenic species A. flavus and F. sporotrichioides, also in terms of toxin containment. As expected, the inhibitory effect of molecules greatly varied amongst both genera and species; cis-jasmone thiosemicarbazone in particular has shown the wider range of effectiveness. However, our results show that thiosemicarbazones derivatives are more effective than the parent ketones in limiting fungal growth and mycotoxins production, supporting possible applications for the control of pathogenic fungi.

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