Mushroom
Newswire

Your Daily Dispatch from the Fungal Frontier.

Latest mushroom news — page 11

Journal of Fungi (MDPI)

JoF, Vol. 12, Pages 373: Targeted Suppression of the Tomato Pathogen Alternaria alternata via Exogenous Application of Double-Stranded RNA

Researchers applied exogenous double-stranded RNA targeting key Alternaria alternata genes to tomato plants to suppress early blight infection. dsRNA treatments targeting the Alt-a1 gene proved most effective, reducing pathogen DNA in plant tissues by up to 27-fold compared to controls. The findings suggest spray-induced gene silencing could offer an alternative to chemical fungicides for managing this common tomato disease.

Journal of Fungi (MDPI)

JoF, Vol. 12, Pages 371: RT-qPCR-Based Estimation of Phytophthora infestans Sporangia Using the MFS Transporter Gene PITG_13011

Researchers developed an RT-qPCR assay targeting the gene PITG_13011 to specifically estimate sporangial proliferation of *Phytophthora infestans*, the pathogen causing late blight in potatoes and tomatoes. The marker detected as few as 100 sporangia and showed strong correlation with sporangial numbers in controlled experiments and infected leaf tissue. The method provides a molecular alternative to existing approaches for measuring sporangial production separately from total pathogen biomass.

Journal of Fungi (MDPI)

JoF, Vol. 12, Pages 370: Multilocus Phylogenetic Identification and Fruit Pathogenicity of Lasiodiplodia Isolates Obtained from Mango Branches with Dieback and Fruits with Stem-End Rot in Mexico

Researchers identified eight Lasiodiplodia species from mango samples showing dieback and stem-end rot symptoms across five Mexican states. Phylogenetic analysis revealed six species new to Mexico on mango tissues, with L. laeliocattleyae and L. brasiliense proving most pathogenic in fruit inoculation tests, while all species induced some necrotic lesions.

MycoStories

🌳 Hy-five: One Tree Documentary, Psilocybin in African Tradition, FungCows, From Waste to Electricity, Yeast Funding Unlocked

A collection of mycology-related stories covers documentary work on trees, psilocybin's role in African traditions, a project called FungCows, technology converting fungal waste to electricity, and funding developments for yeast research. The items represent developments across fungal science, ethnobotany, and biotech applications.

Journal of Fungi (MDPI)

JoF, Vol. 12, Pages 363: New Record of Metarhizium brunneum Infecting Banana Weevil in Peru: Implications for Biological Control

Researchers in Peru's Amazonas region isolated Metarhizium brunneum, an entomopathogenic fungus, from banana weevils in commercial plantations. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed the isolate's identity, and laboratory testing showed isolate PM9 produced high conidial yields on rice substrate and demonstrated strong virulence against adult weevils. The findings suggest potential for incorporating this naturally occurring fungus into integrated pest management for banana crops, pending field-level validation.

Journal of Fungi (MDPI)

JoF, Vol. 12, Pages 362: Pelletized Growth in Cordyceps militaris Is Associated with Coordinated Cell Wall Remodeling and Stress Defense

Adding 1.5% Tween 80 to Cordyceps militaris seed cultures induced compact mycelial pellet formation, which increased exopolysaccharide production by 71% and shortened fermentation by 24 hours. Transcriptomic analysis showed pelletized cultures exhibited enhanced cell wall remodeling and antioxidant capacity, suggesting morphology control may offer an industrial strategy for medicinal fungal metabolite production.