Fungal viruses unveiled : a comprehensive review of my coviruses

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Authors

Hough, Bianca
Steenkamp, Emma Theodora
Wingfield, Brenda D.
Read, David Alan

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

MDPI

Abstract

Mycoviruses (viruses of fungi) are ubiquitous throughout the fungal kingdom and are currently classified into 23 viral families and the genus botybirnavirus by the International Committee on the Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV). The primary focus of mycoviral research has been on mycoviruses that infect plant pathogenic fungi, due to the ability of some to reduce the virulence of their host and thus act as potential biocontrol against these fungi. However, mycoviruses lack extracellular transmission mechanisms and rely on intercellular transmission through the hyphal anastomosis, which impedes successful transmission between different fungal strains. This review provides a comprehensive overview of mycoviruses, including their origins, host range, taxonomic classification into families, effects on their fungal counterparts, and the techniques employed in their discovery. The application of mycoviruses as biocontrol agents of plant pathogenic fungi is also discussed.

Description

DATA AVAILABILITY: No new data was created or analyzed in this study. Data sharing is not applicable to this article.

Keywords

Mycoviruses, Hypovirulence, Hypervirulence, Biocontrol, Diversity, Taxonomy, Transmission, SDG-03: Good health and well-being

Sustainable Development Goals

Citation

Hough, B.; Steenkamp, E.; Wingfield, B.; Read, D. Fungal Viruses Unveiled: A Comprehensive Review of Mycoviruses. Viruses 2023, 15, 1202. https://doi.org/10.3390/v15051202.