Effect Of Mycovirus Infection On The Hydrolytic Enzymes Activity Of Fusarium Oxysporum F. Sp. Cubense Tropical Race 4, The Causal Agent Of Banana Fusarium Wilt

» ARTICLE » Effect of Mycovirus Infection on the Hydrolytic Enzymes Activity of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense Tropical Race 4, the Causal Agent of Banana Fusarium Wilt

List of Articles

Effect of Mycovirus Infection on the Hydrolytic Enzymes Activity of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense Tropical Race 4, the Causal Agent of Banana Fusarium Wilt

Fusarium oxysporum f.sp cubense Tropical Race 4 also known as Fusarium odoratissimum (FO) is a fungal pathogen affecting banana (Musa spp.). It secretes plant cell-wall degrading enzymes (PCWDEs) to penetrate and colonize roots, resulting in wilting symptoms and host death. Mycovirus is a virus that infects fungus. It was discovered that mycovirus could be a biocontrol agent by causing hypovirulence in fungal pathogens, a typical symptom of suppressed pathogenicity of an infected host. Hypovirulence was also associated to reduced PCWDE activity in several plant fungal pathogens. To date, no hypovirulent mycovirus was reported in FO. Hence, this study was conducted to characterize a specific FO strain P2S isolate, co-infected by FO mycobunyavirales-like virus 1 (FoMYV1) and FO Unclassified RNA virus 1 (FoURV1), on its pathogenicity and production of PCWDEs in comparison to uninfected and virulent POH27 and cured CP2S isolates. Result showed that FoMYV1 and FoURV1 reduced disease severity (45.0 ± 12.6%) in P2S isolate compared to POH27 (90.0 ± 5.8%) and CP2S (90.0 ± 5.8%) isolates. Furthermore, co-infection of mycovirus and reduced disease severity were likely associated to the downregulation of PCWDE production such as exoglucanase, xylanase and protease. This is the first study suggesting the possible hypovirulence mechanism induced by the co-infection of mycovirus in FO.

Figure 1: Pathogenicity test after 6 weeks with 3 treatments consisted of negative control (No FO), FO isolates POH27, P2S, and CP2S. Disease severity was computed based on the corm discoloration score.

References:

Zhi-Qin Lai, Clement Kiing Fook Wong, Nor Asmaliza Mohd Ismail, Ganesan Vadamalai (2026). Effect of Mycovirus Infection on the Hydrolytic Enzymes Activity of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense Tropical Race 4, the Causal Agent of Banana Fusarium Wilt. Baghdad Science Journal. 23(1): 13.

Link:

https://doi.org/

Date of Input: 31/03/2026 | Updated: 31/03/2026 | ainzubaidah

MEDIA SHARING

Fusarium oxysporum f.sp cubense Tropical Race 4 also known as Fusarium odoratissimum (FO) is a fungal pathogen affecting banana (Musa spp.). It secretes plant cell-wall degrading enzymes (PCWDEs) to penetrate and colonize roots, resulting in wilting symptoms and host death. Mycovirus is a virus that infects fungus. It was discovered that mycovirus could be a biocontrol agent by causing hypovirulence in fungal pathogens, a typical symptom of suppressed pathogenicity of an infected host. Hypovirulence was also associated to reduced PCWDE activity in several plant fungal pathogens. To date, no hypovirulent mycovirus was reported in FO. Hence, this study was conducted to characterize a specific FO strain P2S isolate, co-infected by FO mycobunyavirales-like virus 1 (FoMYV1) and FO Unclassified RNA virus 1 (FoURV1), on its pathogenicity and production of PCWDEs in comparison to uninfected and virulent POH27 and cured CP2S isolates. Result showed that FoMYV1 and FoURV1 reduced disease severity (45.0 ± 12.6%) in P2S isolate compared to POH27 (90.0 ± 5.8%) and CP2S (90.0 ± 5.8%) isolates. Furthermore, co-infection of mycovirus and reduced disease severity were likely associated to the downregulation of PCWDE production such as exoglucanase, xylanase and protease. This is the first study suggesting the possible hypovirulence mechanism induced by the co-infection of mycovirus in FO.


Figure 1: Pathogenicity test after 6 weeks with 3 treatments consisted of negative control (No FO), FO isolates POH27, P2S, and CP2S. Disease severity was computed based on the corm discoloration score.

References: Zhi-Qin Lai, Clement Kiing Fook Wong, Nor Asmaliza Mohd Ismail, Ganesan Vadamalai (2026). Effect of Mycovirus Infection on the Hydrolytic Enzymes Activity of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense Tropical Race 4, the Causal Agent of Banana Fusarium Wilt. Baghdad Science Journal. 23(1): 13.

Link:
https://doi.org/