Mold and diseases caused by fungi can greatly impact the shelf life of fruit and vegetables. However, some fungi benefit their hosts by aiding plant survival. Colletotrichum tofieldiae (Ct) is a root mold that typically supports continued plant development even when the plant is starved of phosphorus, an important nutrient for photosynthesis and growth. Researchers have studied a unique pathogenic strain of the fungi, called Ct3, which conversely inhibits plant growth. Their research is published in Nature Communications.
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Source: Phys.org