Reviving 80-year-old fungi yields new knowledge for eco-friendly farming methods

In a groundbreaking study led by researchers at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, museum-preserved strains of the Botrytis cinerea fungal pathogen, dating back to the early 1940s, have been successfully revived. This research represents a significant paradigm shift, as past biological data are now being utilised to inform sustainable solutions to contemporary problems.

The study offers retrospective insights into the evolution of the Botrytis cinerea fungal pathogen, providing a deeper understanding of microbial evolution in this context. The revival of these ancient strains has established benchmarks for baseline susceptibility, which can inform resistance management strategies in the face of escalating fungicide resistance.

The chemical profiling of the revived strains has revealed secondary metabolites absent in contemporary forms, potentially representing unexplored antifungal or signaling compounds. This discovery underscores the untapped potential locked within natural history collections worldwide.

Pathogenicity assays suggest that ancestral Botrytis cinerea strains exhibited a more generalised suite of virulence traits compared to contemporary isolates. Changed tolerance thresholds to pH variations and host specificity patterns indicate that pre-industrial fungal populations occupied different ecological niches and faced distinct selective regimes.

The focus of the study is on Botrytis cinerea, a necrotrophic fungal pathogen that causes gray mold disease across more than 200 horticultural and agronomic crops worldwide. The rampant escalation of fungicide resistance threatens crop protection efforts and yield stability, making this research particularly timely and relevant.

The research aligns with global scientific priorities aimed at ensuring food security while minimising environmental harm. The findings cultivate hope that informed stewardship of both biological heritage and modern technology can foster sustainable, adaptable, and environmentally conscientious agricultural systems.

The researchers subjected the revived fungal strains to whole-genome sequencing, transcriptomic profiling, and untargeted metabolomics. The study provides a cautionary tale on the trajectory of agricultural intensification and highlights the profound, often unintended, consequences of anthropogenic actions on microbial communities that govern ecosystem functions.

In conclusion, this research offers a transformative approach to understanding and combating modern agricultural challenges by bridging historical specimens with modern science. The knowledge gained is critical for humanity's efforts to feed a growing population and maintain ecosystem health.