Over 80% of plant diseases are caused by phytopathogenic fungi or oomycetes. Mycoviruses, which infect fungi or oomycetes, are widespread in nature and have been found in a variety of fungal species. Mycoviruses exhibit diverse genomic structures and replication strategies, often displaying unique features that distinguish them from viruses infecting other organisms. One of the intriguing aspects of mycoviruses is their potential applications in various fields. (1) Mycoviruses have shown promise as biocontrol agents against fungal plant pathogens. By infecting and weakening pathogenic fungi, mycoviruses can help reduce the severity of plant diseases, contributing to environmental and agricultural sustainability. (2) Understanding Fungal Biology and Genetics: Studying the interactions between mycoviruses and their fungal hosts provides valuable insights into fungal biology, genetics, and molecular mechanisms. This knowledge enhances our understanding of fungal pathogenicity, antiviral defense mechanisms, and evolutionary processes. (3) Exploration of Novel Viral Diversity: Mycoviruses represent a vast reservoir of untapped viral diversity. Research efforts focused on mycovirus discovery and characterization contribute to expanding our knowledge of viral diversity and evolution. This exploration may lead to the identification of novel viruses with unique properties and applications.
Continued research into mycovirus biology, diversity, and practical uses is imperative to fully harness the benefits of these fascinating microorganisms. Therefore, the aim of this Topic is to update the area of mycoviruses and their biological control of crop diseases with the latest research activities, including identification and characterization of novel mycoviruses infecting fungi that are associated with plants; the diversity, ecology, and evolution of mycoviruses; the interplay among mycoviruses, fungi, and plants; application of mycoviruses to biological control fungal diseases, and so on. We welcome contributions presenting the latest findings on this topic as research articles and review papers.
Guest Editors
Submission deadline: 31 December 2024
Website: https://www.biomedcentral.com/collections/phre-mbc
