The International Symposium on Fungal Stress: ISFUS

Abstract

Fungi play central roles in many biological processes, influencing soil fertility, decomposition, cycling of minerals, and organic matter, plant health, and nutrition. They produce a wide spectrum of molecules, which are exploited in a range of industrial processes to manufacture foods, food preservatives, flavoring agents, and other useful biological products. Fungi can also be used as biological control agents of microbial pathogens, nematodes or insect pests, and affect plant growth, stress tolerance, and nutrient acquisition. Successful exploitation of fungi requires better understanding of the mechanisms that fungi use to cope with stress as well as the way in which they mediate stress tolerance in other organisms. It is against this backdrop that a scientific meeting on fungal stress was held in São José dos Campos, Brazil, in October 2014. The meeting, hosted by Drauzio E. N. Rangel and Alene E. Alder-Rangel, and supported by the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP), brought together more than 30 young, mid-career, and highly accomplished scientists from ten different countries. Here we summarize the highlights of the meeting.

The second International Symposium on Fungal Stress: ISFUS

“…Research into fungal biology and fungal stress can help solve many issues related to human health, climate change, food security, environmental impacts, etc. (Rangel et al, 2015a;Rangel et al, 2015b). Fungi can be used for bioremediation (Gadd, 2016); to replace synthetic pesticides (Li et al, 2010;Rangel and Correia, 2003;Santi et al, 2011); to produce biofuels (Alper et al, 2006;Lam et al, 2014), novel antibiotics (Mygind et al, 2005), enzymes (Maheshwari et al, 2000), and useful chemicals (Hagedorn and Kaphammer, 1994).…”

“…Understanding fungal metabolism at biophysical extremes for life can enable effective preservation of foods, documents, and artefacts and has implications for astrobiology in relation to habitability of hostile environments and preventing contamination of other planetary bodies during space exploration (Stevenson et al, 2015a;Stevenson et al, 2015b;Stevenson et al, 2017). On the other hand, fungal pathogens represent a serious threat to crops, animals, and humans (Rangel et al, 2015a). Fungi are also used as models for basic research on the biology of eukaryotic cells (Rangel et al, 2015a).…”

“…On the other hand, fungal pathogens represent a serious threat to crops, animals, and humans (Rangel et al, 2015a). Fungi are also used as models for basic research on the biology of eukaryotic cells (Rangel et al, 2015a). Thus, understanding how fungi deal with stress during growth or while infecting a host will help optimize the use of fungi in biotechnological applications, improve the environment, and fight fungal diseases.…”

“…A good number of discussions, collaborations, and new friendships were also initiated. (Rangel et al, 2015a;Rangel et al, 2015b). Researchers, who had been studying fungal stress for years and knew each other through journal articles were given the opportunity to finally meet.…”

Effect of biochar and Trichoderma application on fungal diversity and growth of Zea mays in a sandy loam soil

“…Biocontrol properties of Trichoderma (teleomorph Hypocrea, Ascomycota) have been intensively studied in different aspects with the aim to find means to avoid extensive use of agrochemicals. Immobilized and coimmobilized formulations with Trichoderma could be applied as biofertilizers and biopesticides (El-Katatny, Idres 2014; Rangel et al 2015). Many Trichoderma bioinoculants are now commercially available (Stewart, Hill 2014).…”