Research
Mycovirus FgV-ch9
Replication of Fusarium graminearum virus-china9 (FgV-ch9)
The filamentous ascomycete Fusarium graminearum causes head blight disease on small grains. The infection of these crop species result in a massive reduction of yield und quality. Furthermore mycotoxins cause health problems in humans and livestocks. The control of the fungus by fungicides is difficult, therefore alternatives are required.
The infection of the pathogen with the virus Fusarium graminearum virus-China 9 (FgV-ch9, Chrysoviridae) reduces the systemic spread of the fungus within the spike and it therefore leads to a reduction of virulence. This fungus/virus system opens opportunities for a sustainable plant protection.
A prerequisite for the use in the field is a stable and efficient distribution in the fungal mycelium. Filamentous fungi build networks of interconneted hyphae. Single cells are separated by septae from each other, but are in contact via big pores, which allow the exchange of molecules and organelles. In case of stress signals, these pores are seald by specialized cell organelles, the woronin bodies.
In the framework of the joint project „ Cellular mechanisms of infections“ the impact of the woronin bodies on infection and spread oft he FgV-ch9 are investigated.
Control of ash dieback disease
Control of ash dieback disease by means of hypovirulent viruses
Fungicides are a proven tool to fight fungal diseases in agri- and horticulture monocultures. In contrast, the forest ecosystem consists of a highly vulnerable network of different organisms, which would be disturbed by the non-selective fungicides available today. Therefore, the control of the pathogen Hymenoscyphus fraxineus by fungicides is not an option. Because of that, alternative methods need to be implemented to secure the survival of indigenous ash species. The use of viruses can be a promising way since some virus/fungus combinations are known to cause hypovirulence to their plant hosts. In these rare cases, the virus reduces fungal infectiousness or even prevents initial infection. Due to the nature of the virus, it spreads systematically within the pathogen but is restricted to this very fungal species.
To date, no hypovirulence-causing virus is this described for the pathogen H. fraxineus. In our group we investigate the possibility to establish artificial fungus/virus combinations for the use as biocontrol agents.