PhytoMycology

Current status of Botryosphaeriaceae in China: A comprehensive review

2025-12-10T10:11:37+07:00

Botryosphaeriaceae (Botryosphaeriales, Dothideomycetes) encompasses a diverse group of fungi with roles as endophytes, saprobes, and pathogens. Members of Botryosphaeriaceae are responsible for various plant diseases, including cankers, dieback, fruit and root rots, and leaf spots; and it has garnered significant attention in the realm of fungal biology. This study provides an up-to-date assessment of the prevailing status of Botryosphaeriaceae in China by synthesizing information from published records with accessible sequence data. Recently, a considerable number of studies of Botryosphaeriaceae in China based on molecular sequence data have been conducted, uncovering a broad host range and localities (except the Xizang Autonomous Region), some of which have not been described before. To date, 22 genera encompassing 236 species in Botryosphaeriaceae have been reported in the world (www.botryosphaeriales.org), while 15 genera and 101 species (52 new species) have been reported in China. Among the identified species, Botryosphaeria dothidea, Diplodia seriata, Lasiodiplodia pseudotheobromae, L. theobromae, Macrophomina phaseolina and Neofusicoccum parvum exhibit wide host ranges and are distributed across numerous provinces in China. Conversely, certain species exhibit a more restricted distribution, being identified only in specific localities on particular hosts. Instances of such singularity include Botryobambusa and Cophinforma, each reported only once. A noteworthy finding is that approximately 22% of all reported Botryosphaeriaceae species have been described from China. Whereas regular data assortment is still mandatory, the evidence offered here suggests a baseline of Botryosphaeriaceae species isolated in China and will strengthen the forthcoming findings of this group of important pathogens.

Strategies for mining new secondary metabolites from fungi: from Classical Approaches to Genomics-Based Mining

2026-03-20T02:33:09+07:00

Fungi are prolific producers of structurally diverse secondary metabolites, which play significant ecological and pharmacological roles. However, the rate of discovering new fungal natural products has slowed in recent decades, highlighting the need for innovative approaches to unlock their biosynthetic potential. Recent advances in genome sequencing and bioinformatics have revealed the complexity of fungal biosynthetic gene clusters, enabling the development of strategies to activate silent pathways and improve the efficiency of compound identification. This review synthesizes current methodologies for mining novel fungal metabolites, including classical approaches that modify culture conditions, genomics-based genome mining, and dereplication techniques to efficiently distinguish known from unknown compounds. We further highlight integrated, multi-strategy frameworks that maximize discovery efficiency and discuss emerging directions such as multi-omics integration and machine learning-assisted pathway prediction. By providing a comprehensive and forward-looking overview, this work aims to guide the effective exploitation of fungal resources in the search for new natural products.

Compact CRISPR-CasX (Cas12e) nucleases enable genome editing and generation of mutant lines in rice

2026-01-19T19:42:32+07:00

The diversity and large molecular size of CRISPR-associated nucleases often limit their application in plant genome engineering. CasX (also known as Cas12e) is a recently identified RNA-guided nuclease that features a compact protein size (<1000 amino acids) and a relaxed PAM preference (5′-TTCN-3′). Here, we explored the use of two CasX orthologs, DpbCasX and PlmCasX, for targeted genome modification in rice. Both wild-type nucleases exhibited detectable but modest activity in protoplast assays. Structure-guided engineering led to the generation of DpbCasX_RRR and PlmCasX_RRR variants, each containing amino-acid substitutions predicted to enhance DNA binding. These variants displayed improved editing activity, with PlmCasX_RRR showing consistently higher performance. Mutation profiling indicated a tendency toward multi-nucleotide deletions located distal to the PAM. Furthermore, stable rice transformants expressing PlmCasX_RRR transmitted targeted mutations to progeny, producing stable knockout phenotypes. These results establish CasX as a compact and functional nuclease for plant genome editing, broadening the range of CRISPR tools available for crop research and improvement.

Morphological and molecular analyses reveal three new species and one new record of endophytic fungi from Rhododendron decorum in northwestern Yunnan, China

2026-03-20T02:31:54+07:00

Northwestern Yunnan is one of the most biodiversity-rich regions in the world. Rhododendron decorum is a dominant evergreen shrub or small tree in the subalpine coniferous forests and rhododendron shrublands of this region, playing an important role in maintaining ecosystem functions and serving as a traditional medicinal and edible resource for local communities. During an investigation of the endophytic fungal diversity associated with R. decorum in northwestern Yunnan, sixteen fungal strains were isolated and identified using the tissue isolation method, of which fourteen isolates belonged to Sordariomycetes and two to Leotiomycetes. Based on morphological characteristics and multigene phylogenetic analyses, three new species are introduced in this study, viz., Pestalotiopsis decori, P. jianchuanensis, and Pezicula gaoligongensis. In addition, Colletotrichum godetiae is reported for the first time as an endophyte of R. decorum. Although Trichothecium roseum has been previously recorded from this host, it is redescribed and illustrated in detail in the present study. These findings contribute to the knowledge of the taxonomic diversity and host associations of endophytic fungi associated with Rhododendron decorum in northwestern Yunnan.