Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 13, 2026

A Contrast of Three Inoculation Techniques used to Determine the Race of Unknown Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. niveum Isolates
11:48

A Contrast of Three Inoculation Techniques used to Determine the Race of Unknown Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. niveum Isolates

Published on: October 28, 2021

Insight into mycoviruses infecting Fusarium species

Won Kyong Cho1, Kyung-Mi Lee, Jisuk Yu

  • 1Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Center for Fungal Pathogenesis and Research Institute for Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.

Advances in Virus Research
|March 19, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Mycoviruses, particularly double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) viruses, infect many fungi, including plant pathogens like Fusarium. Some mycoviruses, such as Fusarium graminearum virus 1, can be used for biological control of fungal plant pathogens.

Area of Science:

  • Mycology
  • Virology
  • Plant Pathology

Background:

  • Mycoviruses infect major fungal groups, including plant pathogens.
  • Double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) mycoviruses are increasingly found in Fusarium species.
  • While most mycoviruses are asymptomatic, some, like Fusarium graminearum virus 1 (FgV1), induce hypovirulence.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the prevalence and characteristics of mycoviruses in Fusarium species.
  • To understand the impact of mycovirus infection on host cellular processes.
  • To explore the potential of mycoviruses as biocontrol agents against fungal plant pathogens.

Main Methods:

  • Genomic analysis of dsRNA mycoviruses in Fusarium.
  • Phylogenetic analysis to classify Fusarium mycoviruses.
  • Proteome and transcriptome analysis to study host-pathogen interactions.
  • Protoplast fusion for mycovirus transmission studies.

Main Results:

  • dsRNA mycoviruses are common in Fusarium, with high frequency in Fusarium poae.
  • Genomic data reveal mycoviruses exist as complexes of 1-5 dsRNAs.
  • FgV1 infection alters host transcriptional and translational machinery.
  • Successful FgV1 transmission via protoplast fusion was demonstrated.

Conclusions:

  • Fusarium mycoviruses belong to four families: Chrysoviridae, Hypoviridae, Partitiviridae, and Totiviridae.
  • Mycoviruses have the potential for biological control of fungal plant pathogens.
  • Further research into mycovirus life cycles and host interactions is crucial, aided by omics technologies.

More Related Videos

Microfluidic Tools for Probing Fungal-Microbial Interactions at the Cellular Level08:19

Microfluidic Tools for Probing Fungal-Microbial Interactions at the Cellular Level

Published on: June 23, 2022

Quantification of Fungal Colonization, Sporogenesis, and Production of Mycotoxins Using Kernel Bioassays10:01

Quantification of Fungal Colonization, Sporogenesis, and Production of Mycotoxins Using Kernel Bioassays

Published on: April 23, 2012

Related Concept Videos

Fungal Phylum Microsporidia01:28

Fungal Phylum Microsporidia

Microsporidia are a group of obligate intracellular fungi that were initially classified as protists but were later reclassified based on phylogenetic, molecular, and structural evidence linking them to the Chytridiomycota. These unicellular, non-motile organisms are highly specialized parasites that infect a wide range of animal hosts, including humans. They have evolved extensive genomic and metabolic reductions, making them highly dependent on their hosts for survival.Morphology and Genomic...
Overview of Fungi01:29

Overview of Fungi

Fungi are a diverse group of eukaryotes more closely related to animals than other eukaryotes. Fungal cell walls comprise chitin, a polysaccharide that provides structural strength, and glucans, which contribute to flexibility and integrity. Other polysaccharides, such as mannans and galactosans, may supplement or replace chitin in some fungi. These adaptations, along with their preference for acidic environments and tolerance for high osmotic pressure, enable fungi to thrive in various...
Fungal Group Zygomycota01:29

Fungal Group Zygomycota

Zygomycota, previously classified as a distinct fungal group, are primarily terrestrial, saprophytic molds that play a crucial role as decomposers. Recent phylogenetic studies have revealed that these fungi are now divided into two major clades — Mucoromycota, which includes many symbiotic species, and Zoopagomycota, which primarily consists of parasitic and pathogenic fungi. These groups exhibit distinct ecological roles and reproductive strategies while sharing key structural and...
Fungal Phylum Ascomycota01:28

Fungal Phylum Ascomycota

Phylum Ascomycota, a major division within the subkingdom Dikarya, comprises a diverse range of fungal species, including both unicellular yeasts and filamentous molds such as Aspergillus and Penicillium. These fungi thrive in a variety of habitats, from aquatic ecosystems to terrestrial environments, playing crucial ecological and economic roles.Morphology and ReproductionThe defining characteristic of Ascomycetes, commonly referred to as sac fungi, is the ascus—a sac-like structure that...
Fungal Phylum Basidiomycota01:26

Fungal Phylum Basidiomycota

Basidiomycota is a diverse phylum of fungi that includes ecologically significant decomposers such as white rot fungi, symbionts like mycorrhizal fungi, plant pathogens such as rusts and smuts, and edible species like Agaricus bisporus (the common button mushroom). These fungi play crucial roles in nutrient cycling, symbiotic relationships, and even human health. Their defining feature is the basidium, a microscopic club-shaped structure responsible for producing basidiospores.Fruiting Bodies...
The Roles of Bacteria and Fungi in Plant Nutrition02:11

The Roles of Bacteria and Fungi in Plant Nutrition

Plants have the impressive ability to create their own food through photosynthesis. However, plants often require assistance from organisms in the soil to acquire the nutrients they need to function correctly. Both bacteria and fungi have evolved symbiotic relationships with plants that help the species to thrive in a wide variety of environments.