A hypovirulence-associated capsidless bi-segmented ssRNA mycovirus enhances melanin and microsclerotial production in a vascular phytopathogenic fungus.

ABSTRACT: Mycoviruses are increasingly recognized for their multifaceted roles in fungal ecology, because of advances in understanding of their biology and molecular features. In this research, we identified and characterized two capsidless, bi-segmented positive-sense RNA mycoviruses: Verticillium dahliae ormycovirus 1 (VdOMV1) and VdOMV2, both of which infect Verticillium dahliae, a fungal pathogen causing vascular wilt of cotton. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that VdOMV1 and VdOMV2 cluster within the ormycovirus group, an evolutionary lineage unique to Riboviria. VdOMV2 may significantly enhanced V. dahliae melanin production and microsclerotial formation through regulating melanin synthesis-associated genes. This mediated the conversion from production of hyphae to microsclerotia, and enhanced

SUBMITTER: Gao J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12360652 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature