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Molecular and physiological effects of environmental UV radiation on fungal conidia

Gilberto U L Braga1, Drauzio E N Rangel, Éverton K K Fernandes

  • 1Departamento de Análises Clínicas, Toxicológicas E Bromatológicas, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil, gbraga@fcfrp.usp.br.

Current Genetics
|April 1, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Solar radiation, particularly ultraviolet (UV) radiation, significantly impacts fungal conidia, affecting their survival, dispersal, and pathogenicity. Research reviews protective and repair mechanisms against UV damage and efforts to enhance fungal strain tolerance.

Area of Science:

  • Mycology
  • Photobiology
  • Fungal Pathogenesis

Background:

  • Conidia are crucial asexual reproductive and dispersal units of filamentous fungi.
  • Conidia play roles in fungal persistence, host recognition, and infection in pathogenic species.
  • Solar radiation, especially UV, profoundly influences conidial functions like survival, germination, and virulence.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the diverse effects of solar radiation on fungal conidia.
  • To overview mechanisms of protection against and repair of UV-induced conidial damage.
  • To examine strategies for increasing fungal strain tolerance to solar radiation.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on solar radiation and fungal conidia.
  • Analysis of research on UV radiation effects (UV-A, UV-B) on conidial viability and function.
  • Synthesis of findings on fungal protective and repair systems.

Main Results:

  • Solar UV radiation (UV-A and UV-B) can be lethal to conidia, limiting fungal populations and dispersal.
  • Sublethal UV doses can reduce conidial germination speed and virulence.
  • Fungi possess systems for protection from and repair of UV-induced damage.

Conclusions:

  • Solar radiation is a major environmental factor shaping fungal biology and ecology.
  • Understanding UV effects and resistance mechanisms is vital for managing fungal pathogens and improving biocontrol agents.
  • Developing UV-tolerant fungal strains is a key area of research for specific applications.

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