Mycovirus Converts Pathogenic Fungus to Rapeseed Immune System Booster

A mycovirus has been found to convert a pathogenic plant fungus from a deadly infectious organism to a beneficial rapeseed immune system booster.

Findings of a New Study

Scientists discovered that this fungal virus or mycovirus could make fungal pathogen changes and help rapeseed crops. The transformed fungus then strengthens the immunity of the plant, making it resist diseases better. The study was published in the Molecular Plant journal.

According to senior author and Huazhong Agricultural University professor Daohong Jiang, the mycovirus they identified converts the said fungus from a fatal pathogen of various plants into an endophytic fungus, a beneficial mutualistic relationship with these plants. 

Losses in Rapeseed Farms

Rapeseed is the main ingredient of canola oil. Aside from being used as a vegetable cooking oil, rapeseed is also a critical biodiesel and animal feed component.

Farms cultivating rapeseed encounter significant problems and plant losses from Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, a fungal pathogen that causes a white mold condition. It inflicts lesions, causes the stems to rot, and causes death after only a few days of infection.

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Important Rapeseed Ally

The discovery points to the potential for developing fungal viruses into plant "vaccines" that improve crop health and yield.

According to the authors, scientists currently do not know where endophytic fungi originate. The mycovirus may have been involved in the evolution of such fungi.

The mycovirus causes the infectious rapeseed fungus to become benign. The fungus then starts to co-exist peacefully with its host plant while also benefitting it.

The Findings

The researchers inoculated rapeseed seeds with fragments of the infectious fungus and found that the plant's immune system improved, with a weight increase of 18% and additional roots growth. The plants grew more robust and larger and became more resistant to other diseases.

The infectious fungus now treats the host rapeseed plant as its home and protects it because of the mycovirus. 

The research team also found that the mycovirus suppressed the stem rot in infected rapeseed fields. It also caused more plant growth as well as seed yield at a level of 6.9-14.9%.

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A New Method in Solving Crop Diseases

This is a new way of tackling diseases in crops and decreasing their virulence. The research team also discovered that the virus is easily transmissible to other infectious fungi in the field, making them ideal for developing such "vaccines."

According to Jiang, inoculating the virally infected fungus in the seed will cause the fungus to grow with its host. The protection it confers is significant for its entire lifetime.

Jiang says that there are currently no crops that are resistant to these pathogens. Over 80% of all crop diseases that destroy 30% of food crops yearly are fungi. These pathogens are economically important, and they have a serious negative impact on the food industry and worldwide poverty.

According to Jiang, the infectious fungus is also present in the US and attacks other crops such as beans and sunflowers. The method that his research team developed using the mycovirus to save the rapeseed from the deadly fungus has significant potential.

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