Iranian Mycological Society Mycologia Iranica 2383-000X 13 1 2026 06 06 Mycovirome: biology, diversity, structures, advantages, and applications in plant protection 1 23 135617 10.22092/mi.2026.371143.1331 EN Samaneh Golpayegani Phytopathology Section; Plant Protection Department, Agriculture Faculty, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran Arezoo Pakdel Phytopathology Section; Plant Protection Department, Agriculture Faculty, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran Jalal Soltani Phytopathology Section; Plant Protection Department, Agriculture Faculty, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran Journal Article 2025 10 23 The mycovirome comprises viruses that interact with fungi. These viruses are transmitted intracellularly during cell division, sporogenesis, or hyphal anastomosis, typically lacking an extracellular phase in their life cycle. Mycoviruses have been identified in a wide variety of fungal species, but their host range is restricted to compatible vegetative groups. While many mycoviruses exhibit no apparent effects on their hosts, others induce phenotypic changes, including uneven growth, abnormal pigmentation, and, in some cases, alterations in sexual reproduction. Notably, many virus-infected fungi display reduced virulence toward plants, a phenomenon termed hypovirulence. Such viruses often possess broad infectivity across multiple fungal species, making them valuable tools for the biological control of plant fungal diseases. Most known mycoviruses possess RNA genomes, either single-stranded or double-stranded, with only a few having single-stranded DNA genomes. To date, no mycoviruses with double-stranded DNA genomes have been identified, possibly due to technological limitations. However, advances in nucleic acid sequencing technologies hold significant promise for advancing mycovirus research. This review explores the biology, diversity, structural features, and applications of mycoviruses, with a focus on their potential in plant protection.

https://mij.areeo.ac.ir/article_135617_630a921aae20967a7382ccac405de47b.pdf

Iranian Mycological Society Mycologia Iranica 2383-000X 13 1 2026 06 30 Bioinformatic analysis of domain and motif architecture of cellulase enzymes in five CAZy families of Ascomycota 25 38 135823 10.22092/mi.2026.371792.1338 EN Abbas Rahimi Department of Plant Protection. Faculty of Crop Sciences, Sari Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University (SANRU), Sari, Iran Mohammad Ali Tajick Ghanbary Department of Plant Protection. Faculty of Crop Sciences, Sari Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University (SANRU), Sari, Iran Valiollah Babaeizad Department of Plant Protection. Faculty of Crop Sciences, Sari Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University (SANRU), Sari, Iran Mohammad Ali Barimani Varandi Department of Plant Protection. Faculty of Crop Sciences, Sari Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University (SANRU), Sari, Iran Samira Shahbazi Nuclear Agriculture Research School, Nuclear Science and Technology Research Institute (NSTRI), Karaj, Iran 0000-0002-9923-7571 Journal Article 2025 12 17 Cellulase enzymes degrade cellulose, the most abundant structural polysaccharide in plant biomass, thereby playing a central role in fungal ecology and biotechnology. Here, we conducted a bioinformatic analysis of cellulase enzymes across the phylum Ascomycota to examine their diversity, domain architecture, conserved motifs, and evolutionary relationships. We retrieved cellulase protein sequences from 69 representative Ascomycota species in the UniProtKB database, analyzed them using InterProScan, COBALT, and the MEME Suite, and conducted phylogenetic reconstruction in MEGA11. Our domain analysis identified five major CAZy families: glycoside hydrolase families GH5, GH7, GH10, GH11, and auxiliary activity family AA9, demonstrating the structural diversity found in ascomycete cellulases. Motif analysis revealed multiple conserved and family-specific motifs, indicating strong conservation of catalytic cores and variability in peripheral regions. Multiple sequence alignment and phylogenetic analyses showed that cellulase proteins clustered clearly within CAZy families, with high bootstrap support, suggesting that domain and motif architectures provide robust phylogenetic signals. Together, these results clarify the structural and evolutionary diversity of ascomycete cellulases and establish a foundation for future functional, ecological, and biotechnological studies of fungal cellulases.

https://mij.areeo.ac.ir/article_135823_7c2d5ff49e281b6bd629d08e31db6180.pdf

Iranian Mycological Society Mycologia Iranica 2383-000X 13 1 2026 06 03 AvrStb6 diversity and isoform variation in Zymoseptoria tritici, the fungal wheat pathogen from Golestan Province, Iran 39 50 135583 10.22092/mi.2026.372598.1346 EN Vala Rezvani Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran Parissa Taheri Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran. Mohammad Javan-Nikkhah Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran Naser Mohammadi Dryland Agricultural Research Institute, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Maragheh, Iran Amir Mirzadi Gohari Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran 0000-0001-6147-4312 Journal Article 2026 04 24 Septoria tritici blotch (STB), caused by Zymoseptoria tritici, is a major disease of wheat worldwide. The avirulence effector AvrStb6 is central to the gene-for-gene interaction with the wheat resistance protein Stb6. In this study, the AvrStb6 locus was analyzed in three isolates from Golestan Province, Iran. Sequencing identified two haplotypes that encoded two distinct protein isoforms of 82 amino acids. Structural modelling using SWISS-MODEL showed that many nonsynonymous substitutions were located in surface-exposed loops, potentially affecting effector–host interactions. Pathogenicity tests revealed a clear association between isoform sequence and virulence: an I01‑like isoform produced very low pycnidial coverage on Stb6‑containing wheat, whereas divergent isoforms produced high pycnidial coverage. Notably, the persistence of an I01‑like isoform in Iran contrasts with global reports of its absence. Global phylogenetic analysis placed the Golestan haplotypes within Turkish–European lineages. These findings demonstrate rapid effector diversification in Golestan province and emphasize the importance of diversified resistance breeding for durable STB management.

https://mij.areeo.ac.ir/article_135583_ae28a2dc2ba21447a71d7bd2d474fef7.pdf

Iranian Mycological Society Mycologia Iranica 2383-000X 13 1 2026 05 30 Identification and pathogenic characterization of Colletotrichum fructicola causing anthracnose on Ficus binnendijkii in southern Iran 51 64 135490 10.22092/mi.2026.372352.1344 EN Hamed Negahban Department of Plant Protection, School of Agriculture, Shiraz University 0009-0002-1658-9131 Reza Mostowfizadeh-Ghalamfarsa Department of Plant Protection, School of Agriculture, Shiraz University Journal Article 2026 02 22 During a survey of ornamental landscape trees in Bushehr Province, southern Iran, dark-brown leaf spot symptoms were observed on Ficus binnendijkii trees, a popular cultivated ornamental species. Fungal isolates from symptomatic leaves were identified as Colletotrichum fructicola through morphological and molecular analyses of the tub2 and gapdh loci, with phylogenetic evidence confirming their close similarity to reference strains. To confirm pathogenicity, both wounded and unwounded F. binnendijkii leaves were inoculated with C. fructicola mycelial plugs and spore suspensions, and the isolated fungus was found to induce substantial necrosis, thus fulfilling Koch’s postulates. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) indicated highly significant differences in lesion progression metrics (lesion length and width) among the different inoculation methods (P < 0.0001). Specifically, inoculation of wounded leaves with mycelial plugs resulted in more severe lesions compared to the other inoculation methods tested. This study represents the first documented global incidence of anthracnose caused by C. fructicola on F. binnendijkii. These findings highlight the need for future investigations into the epidemiology of this pathogen on other ornamental plants and the development of effective disease management strategies.

https://mij.areeo.ac.ir/article_135490_4a4fd7b994a28334eb4a13c969ca81ee.pdf

Iranian Mycological Society Mycologia Iranica 2383-000X 13 1 2026 06 14 Didymellaceae species associated with Zagrosian forest trees in Khuzestan Province 65 80 135682 10.22092/mi.2026.372320.1343 EN Payam Eisvand Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran Mehdi Mehrabi-Koushki Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran Journal Article 2026 02 19 The family Didymellaceae comprises a large number of genera and species, as well as numerous host types and geographical spreads. In the present research, 30 Didymellaceae isolates were obtained from Zagros forests in Khuzestan Province. Using phylogenetic analysis and morphological features, these isolates were identified as follow: Didymella glomerata, D. microchlamydospora, D. pinodella, D. pomorum, Neomicrosphaeropsis juglandis, Paramicrosphaeropsis iranica, and P. salandica. New hosts are reported for all of these species including Crataegus and Astragalus plant genera for D. glomerata, Crataegus for D. microchlamydospora and N. juglandis, Cerasus microcarpa for D. pinodella, Quercus brantii for D. pomorum, Celtis caucasica and Cerasus microcarpa for P. iranica, and Rhamnus persica for P. salandica.

https://mij.areeo.ac.ir/article_135682_e5e7dac991b3395d5d7d486a411d461c.pdf

Iranian Mycological Society Mycologia Iranica 2383-000X 13 1 2026 06 08 Molecular and morphological characterization of Hortaea werneckii, an endophytic fungus on mangrove trees (Avicennia marina) in Iran 81 90 135641 10.22092/mi.2026.372470.1345 EN Zahra Cheraghi Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran Mohammad Javan-Nikkhah Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran Khalil-Berdi Fotouhifar Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran Vahid Etemad Department of Forestry and Forest Economy, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Iran Samaneh Bashiri Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran Journal Article 2026 04 01 Mangrove forests are resilient ecosystems inhabiting tropical coastlines and provide a habitat for species such as Avicennia marina, which exhibits notable tolerance to environmental stresses. These mangrove-associated habitats support the production of bioactive metabolites and host diverse endophytic fungi, highlighting their potential applications in agriculture and pharmaceutical development. Endophytic fungi are potent biological agents capable of suppressing plant pathogens, synthesizing medically relevant metabolites, degrading environmental pollutants, thereby contributing substantially to sustainable agriculture and environmental health. The present study aimed to isolate and characterize endophytic fungal species associated with mangrove trees in Qeshm region of Hormozgan Province, Iran. Root, stem, and leaf tissues were surface-sterilized in 70 % ethanol for 30 seconds (leaves) or 1 minute (roots and stems), followed by diluted 2% sodium hypochlorite solution for 1.5 minutes (leaves) or 3 minutes (roots and stems), and finally rinsed three times with sterile distilled water. The disinfected tissues were cultured on potato dextrose agar (PDA) and water agar (WA), and the emerging endophytic fungi were subsequently purified to obtain monoconidial isolates. Morphological identification was conducted using standard taxonomic references, while molecular characterization was based on sequencing the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of rDNA. Morphological and molecular characterization indicated that 9.8% of leaf isolates, 36.84% of stem isolates, and 7.14% of root isolates belong to the genus Hortaea, with phylogenetic analysis confirming these isolates as Hortaea werneckii. Based on current knowledge, H. werneckii represents a new record for mangrove forests in Iran Funga, with Avicennia marina serving as a plant host.

https://mij.areeo.ac.ir/article_135641_2a1602611ec87e009ff2d89d8cf18589.pdf

Iranian Mycological Society Mycologia Iranica 2383-000X 13 1 2026 06 30 Molecular identification of Podospora bulbillosa keratitis with progressive stromal thinning: a case report 91 97 135967 10.22092/mi.2026.372915.1348 EN Mehrnaz Atighehchian Farabi Eye Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences; Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, Islamic Azad University Tehran Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Koosha Koorehpaz Farabi Eye Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Sadegh Khodavaisy Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Zohreh Abedinifar Microbiology Unit, Department of Pathology, Farabi Eye Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Alireza Izadi Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Shahed University, Tehran, Iran Mehran Zarei-Ghanavati Farabi Eye Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Journal Article 2026 05 28 Fungal keratitis (FK) is a sight-threatening corneal infection that is particularly prevalent in developing countries. This report describes a case of Podospora bulbillosa keratitis, a rare organism confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) following negative culture results. A 63-year-old male presented with a well-demarcated yellow-brown stromal infiltration. Microbiological evaluation revealed pigmented septate hyphae; however, culture remained negative, and molecular identification was performed using ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 rDNA sequences, which identified the isolate as Podospora bulbillosa (formerly Cladorrhinum bulbillosum). The patient received intensive topical voriconazole 1% and chlorhexidine 0.2% combined with oral voriconazole. Progressive thinning required cyanoacrylate glue. The infection resolved over three months, leaving a central scar. While infections by this organism have been rarely reported, additional cases are crucial to consolidate knowledge of clinical presentation and potential aggressiveness. This case emphasizes the value of molecular diagnostic tools in detecting unusual pathogens and guiding therapy.

https://mij.areeo.ac.ir/article_135967_e67c6f470ff1cc10566c3aca6d66f938.pdf

Iranian Mycological Society Mycologia Iranica 2383-000X 13 1 2026 06 30 Pathogenicity of Pythium aphanidermatum on Sugarcane: First Record from Iran 99 106 135770 10.22092/mi.2026.373046.1350 EN Nahid Sadat Favazeli Department of Plant Protection, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran Zahra Mirsoleymani Plant Protection Research Department, Fars Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, AREEO, Shiraz, Iran Fatemeh Salmaninezhad Department of Plant Protection, School of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran 0000-0002-9043-005X Reza Mostowfizadeh-Ghalamfarsa Department of Plant Protection, School of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran Journal Article 2026 06 14 Sugarcane is one of the most important industrial crops in Iran, particularly in Khuzestan Province, where soilborne pathogens can threaten crop establishment and productivity. During surveys of sugarcane fields in Khuzestan, plants showing severe root rot, yellowing, and stunting were collected along with samples of rhizosphere soil and irrigation water samples. In total, 526 oomycete isolates were obtained using CMA-PARP selective medium, of which 11 isolates were identified as Pythium aphanidermatum based on morphological characteristics, including filamentous inflated sporangia, globose smooth oogonia, aplerotic oospores, and intercalary antheridia. Molecular identification of a representative isolate was carried out using sequence data from the ITS region and the cox1 gene. Phylogenetic analyses showed that this isolate belongs to Clade A of Pythium sensu stricto and groups with reference isolates of P. aphanidermatum with strong support. Pathogenicity tests demonstrated that this species caused severe root rot, yellowing, stunting, and wilting on sugarcane four weeks after inoculation, reproducing symptoms similar to those observed in the field. This study reports the first confirmed occurrence of P. aphanidermatum causing sugarcane root rot in Iran. The detection of this aggressive oomycete in sugarcane fields of Khuzestan highlights the need for continuous monitoring and integrated management of soilborne diseases in Iranian sugarcane production systems.

https://mij.areeo.ac.ir/article_135770_45177ba25083a1193ea0d812d6f27e0b.pdf

Iranian Mycological Society Mycologia Iranica 2383-000X 13 1 2026 06 07 First Record of the Genus Saproamanita in Iran: Saproamanita vittadinii 107 114 135620 10.22092/mi.2026.372695.1347 EN Mohammad Reza Asef Department of Botany, Iranian Research Institute of Plant Protection, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Tehran, Iran Saeed Abbasi Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran Elham Seidmohammadi Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran Journal Article 2026 05 03 An extensive survey of Amanita species in northern and western Iran was conducted to document the diversity of this genus and related taxa. Among the collected specimens, Saproamanita vittadinii, a saprotrophic and edible species, is recorded for the first time in Iran, representing the first report of the genus Saproamanita in the country. Detailed macroscopic and microscopic examinations were performed to describe its morphological characteristics. To complete species identification, the ITS rDNA was sequenced, and phylogenetic analysis was performed. This discovery expands the known distribution of S. vittadinii, highlights the ecological diversity of saprotrophic Amanita-related taxa in Iran, and provides baseline data for future taxonomic, ecological, and phylogenetic studies.

https://mij.areeo.ac.ir/article_135620_8110e9bf4509e1574bb151610aac815f.pdf

Iranian Mycological Society Mycologia Iranica 2383-000X 13 1 2026 06 25 Fusarium annulatum associated with floral malformation and causing mango branch dieback in southeastern Iran 115 122 136200 10.22092/mi.2026.374031.1357 EN Farzaneh Damani Zamani Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zabol, Zabol, Iran Mojtaba Keikhasaber Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zabol, Zabol, Iran Mehdi Pirnia Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zabol, Zabol, Iran Shir Ahmad Sarani Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zabol, Zabol, Iran Adel Pordel Plant Protection Research Department, Baluchestan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, Iranshahr, Iran Journal Article 2026 04 24 During a survey of mango (Mangifera indica L., Anacardiaceae) orchards in Sistan and Baluchestan Province, southeastern Iran, characteristic symptoms of branch dieback and floral malformation were observed on branches and inflorescences. A total of 14 fungal isolates, of which nine were obtained from symptomatic branches and five from malformed inflorescences, were recovered and identified as Fusarium annulatum, based on cultural and morphological characteristics and multilocus phylogenetic analyses of the ITS-rDNA, tef1-α, and tub2 regions, using representative isolate ZD4-7. This study provides the first report of Fusarium annulatum associated with floral malformation and capable of causing branch dieback symptoms in pathogenicity assays in Iran and expands the current knowledge of fungal pathogens associated with mango diseases in the southeast of Iran.

https://mij.areeo.ac.ir/article_136200_025f49f62f342e63f2b0fec87f63c50c.pdf