以色列科研人员“复活”80年前真菌标本

Core Insights - Researchers at Hebrew University in Jerusalem successfully "revived" two strains of plant pathogenic fungi collected approximately 80 years ago, providing important clues for understanding the long-term impact of modern agriculture on soil microbial ecology and supporting the development of more sustainable agricultural systems [1][2] Group 1: Research Findings - The study focused on Botrytis cinerea, a globally prevalent plant pathogenic fungus that causes gray mold disease in over 200 crops, posing significant challenges to agricultural productivity, global food security, international trade, and environmental health [1] - The research team selected two strains of gray mold fungus from the 1940s, which naturally grew in agricultural systems before the widespread use of synthetic fertilizers and fungicides, considered as samples from the "pre-chemical intervention era" [1] - The revival involved advanced techniques such as whole-genome sequencing, transcriptome analysis, and metabolome analysis, revealing significant differences between the old strains and modern strains, including weaker resistance to fungicides and lower pathogenicity [1][2] Group 2: Implications for Agriculture - The evolution of gray mold over approximately 80 years reflects the long-term impact of human agricultural activities on micro-ecosystems, allowing researchers to quantify the biological costs of human intervention [2] - The findings are expected to aid in improving plant disease management, biodiversity conservation, and advancing sustainable agricultural practices [2]