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Dryad

Data from: Insect hypovirulence-associated mycovirus confers entomopathogenic fungi with enhanced resistance against phytopathogens

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May 13, 2024 version files 207.96 KB

Abstract

Mycoviruses can alter the biological characteristics of host fungi including decreasing or enhancing virulence or pathogenicity of phytopathogens and entomopathogenic fungi (EPF). As an extensively used EPF, Beauveria bassiana could not only directly control pests, but also improve plant resistance against plant disease through endophytic colonization. However, most studies on the mycoviruses found in B. bassiana have focused on the effects of the viruses on the virulence of host fungi toward insect pests, with relatively few reports on the effects to the host fungi with regard to plant disease resistance in hosts. The present study investigated the effects of the mycovirus Beauveria bassiana chrysovirus 2 (BbCV2) virus infection on host biological characteristics, additionally, we evaluated antagonistic activity of BbCV2 against phytopathogenic fungi (Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and Botrytis cinerea) in vitro and their associated diseases both in in vitro leaves and in pot experiments.  Our results showed that the mycovirus, BbCV2, enhanced the growth rate, spore production, and biomass of host fungi B. bassiana. BbCV2 virus infection enhanced the capacity of host fungi and their metabolic products to inhibit phytopathogenic fungi S. sclerotiorum and B. cinerea. BbCV2 virus infection reduced the contents of the two pathogens in tomato plants significantly, and in turn enhanced the plant resistance induced by host fungi colonization against the diseases caused by the two pathogens.