Sex Pheromone Receptor Ste2 Orchestrates Chemotropic Growth towards Pine Root Extracts in the Pitch Canker Pathogen .

In ascomycetous fungi, sexual mate recognition requires interaction of the Ste2 receptor protein produced by one partner with the α-factor peptide pheromone produced by the other partner. In some fungi, Ste2 is further needed for chemotropism towards plant roots to allow for subsequent infection and colonization. Here, we investigated whether this is also true for the pine pitch canker fungus, , which is a devastating pathogen of pine globally.

Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of Ceratocystis albifundus.

Functional association between genomic loci and specific biological traits remains lacking in many fungi, including the African tree pathogen Ceratocystis albifundus. This is mainly because of the absence of suitable transformation systems for allowing genetic manipulation of this and other fungi. Here, we present an optimized protocol for Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation of C.

Biodegradation of Nigerian wood wastes by Pleurotus tuber-regium (Fries) Singer.

Studies were carried out for 90days on the degradation of wood wastes of four economically important Nigerian trees; Terminalia superba, Mansonia altissima, Holoptelia grandis and Milicia excelsa by white rot fungus, Pleurotus tuber-regium a Nigerian edible mushroom. The pH of the wastes dropped to 4.0/4.