Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 16, 2026

Inoculation Strategies to Infect Plant Roots with Soil-Borne Microorganisms
Published on: March 1, 2022
Hypovirulence: mycoviruses at the fungal-plant interface
1Center for Biosystems Research, 5115 Plant Sciences Building, University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute, College Park, Maryland 20742, USA. nuss@umbi.umd.edu
Abstract:
Whereas most mycoviruses lead 'secret lives', some reduce the ability of their fungal hosts to cause disease in plants. This property, known as hypovirulence, has attracted attention owing to the importance of fungal diseases in agriculture and the limited strategies that are available for the control of these diseases. Using one pathogen to control another is appealing, both intellectually and ecologically. The recent development of an infectious cDNA-based reverse genetics system for members of the Hypoviridae mycovirus family has enabled the analysis of basic aspects of this fascinating virus-fungus-plant interaction, including virus-host interactions, the mechanisms underlying fungal pathogenesis, fungal signalling pathways and the evolution of RNA silencing. Such systems also provide a means for engineering mycoviruses for enhanced biocontrol potential.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Microbe-Plant Interactions
The Roles of Bacteria and Fungi in Plant Nutrition
Fungal Phylum Microsporidia
Introduction to Plant Diversity
Fungal Group Zygomycota
Fungal Phylum Basidiomycota

