Mycoviral biocontrol platform for soilborne fungal pathogens via heterokaryon incompatibility profiling

Overview

Soilborne fungal pathogens cause significant crop losses globally, and conventional chemical controls face increasing regulatory and resistance challenges. This research addresses a key bottleneck in mycoviral biocontrol: the natural genetic barriers that restrict virus transmission between fungal individuals. Mycoviruses can induce hypovirulence in plant-pathogenic fungi, but they require hyphal fusion for transmission, making compatibility between donor and recipient strains essential.

The platform profiles heterokaryon incompatibility (het) loci across UK Fusarium populations to identify non-pathogenic Fusarium strains that are compatible with target pathogen populations. These compatible strains can then serve as vectors, delivering mycoviruses that disarm fungal pathogens and reduce disease. The approach combines population genomics, mycoviral discovery, and targeted vector identification to enable precision biocontrol of soilborne diseases.

Technical specifications

Core capabilities:

• Genomic profiling of heterokaryon incompatibility (het) gene diversity across UK Fusarium populations using Illumina sequencing and MLST-based population characterisation
• PCR-based screening of het gene haplotypes to map transmission barriers within fungal populations
• RNA-Seq-based identification of novel hypovirulence-inducing mycoviruses present in UK Fusarium isolates
• Identification and development of non-pathogenic compatible Fusarium strains for proof-of-concept mycoviral transmission
• Population-level sampling and characterisation of F. graminearum at local and national scales over multiple growing seasons

Scientific basis:

The research team has demonstrated expertise in genomic analysis of pathogenic and mycoprotein-producing Fusarium species, including identification and annotation of heterokaryon incompatibility genes throughout Fusarium genomes. Preliminary analysis revealed that 16% of 805 Fusarium RNA-Seq datasets contain viral sequences, with 8.5% showing homology to known mycoviruses, confirming both the prevalence and diversity of exploitable mycoviruses in UK populations.

Technology readiness level

This research is at an early-to-mid stage of development. Current work has established the genomic foundation, including het gene identification and annotation across Fusarium genomes, and has confirmed widespread mycoviral presence in UK Fusarium populations. The next phase involves systematic population sampling, het gene diversity profiling, barrier identification through PCR screening, and proof-of-concept transmission studies using compatible non-pathogenic vectors. Validation will progress from laboratory characterisation through to demonstration of mycoviral transmission and hypovirulence induction in UK Fusarium populations.