Flower Bulb Waste Material is a Natural Niche for the Sexual Cycle in Aspergillus fumigatus.

ABSTRACT: With population genetic evidence of recombination ongoing in the natural Aspergillus fumigatus population and a sexual cycle demonstrated in the laboratory the question remained what the natural niche for A. fumigatus sex is. Composting plant-waste material is a known substrate of A. fumigatus to thrive and withstand temperatures even up to 70°C. Previous studies have shown indirect evidence for sexual reproduction in these heaps but never directly demonstrated the sexual structures due to technical limitations. Here, we show that flower bulb waste material from stockpiles undergoing composting can provide the conditions for sexual reproduction. Direct detection of ascospore structures was shown in agricultural flower bulb waste material by using a grid-based detection

SUBMITTER: Zhang J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8823264 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature