Current Advances in the Functional Diversity and Mechanisms Underlying Endophyte-Plant Interactions.

Plant phenotype is a complex entity largely controlled by the genotype and various environmental factors. Importantly, co-evolution has allowed plants to coexist with the biotic factors in their surroundings. Recently, plant endophytes as an external plant phenotype, forming part of the complex plethora of the plant microbial assemblage, have gained immense attention from plant scientists.

Fighting Death for Living: Recent Advances in Molecular and Genetic Mechanisms Underlying Maize Lethal Necrosis Disease Resistance.

Maize Lethal Necrosis (MLN) disease, caused by a synergistic co-infection of maize chlorotic mottle virus (MCMV) and any member of the family, was first reported in EasternAfrica (EA) a decade ago. It is one of the most devastating threats to maize production in these regions since it can lead up to 100% crop loss. Conventional counter-measures have yielded some success; however, they are becoming less effective in controlling MLN.