• What do coffee, sugar, wheat, soy, eucalypts and paperbarks all have in common?
Article Summaries:
- Scientists have identified a beneficial fungus that could protect a range of crops and trees-including coffee, sugarcane, wheat, soy, eucalypts and paperbarks-from destructive fungal pathogens such as the myrtle rust disease. The research, published in a leading plant‑science journal, shows that the fungus colonises plant roots and produces natural compounds that inhibit the growth of harmful fungi. Field trials in Australia demonstrated a significant reduction in rust infection on eucalypt seedlings, suggesting the fungus could be developed into a biocontrol agent for forestry and agriculture. If commercialised, it could reduce reliance on chemical fungicides and help safeguard global food and timber supplies.
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