Genomics-Driven Insights into Plant Pathogenic Fungi: Emerging Mechanisms, Evolution, and Sustainable Control Strategies

Authors

  • Muhammad Awais Fareed Department of Plant Pathology, College of Agriculture, University of Sargodha, Sargodha-40100, Pakistan
  • Muti Ur Rehman Institute of Chemistry, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur-63100, Pakistan
  • Summia Iqbal Department of Plant Pathology, College of Agriculture, University of Sargodha, Sargodha-40100, Pakistan
  • Awais Mutti Department of Plant Pathology, College of Agriculture, University of Sargodha, Sargodha-40100, Pakistan
  • Shahzaib Asghar Department of Plant Pathology, College of Agriculture, University of Sargodha, Sargodha-40100, Pakistan
  • Maryam Khaliq Department of Plant Pathology, College of Agriculture, University of Sargodha, Sargodha-40100, Pakistan
  • Muhammad Tayyab Mateen Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, University of Sargodha, Sargodha-40100, Pakistan
  • Rabbia Nasir Department of Plant Pathology, College of Agriculture, University of Sargodha, Sargodha-40100, Pakistan
  • Iram Bilqees Department of Plant Pathology, College of Agriculture, University of Sargodha, Sargodha-40100, Pakistan
  • Sonum Bashir Department of Plant Pathology, College of Agriculture, University of Sargodha, Sargodha-40100, Pakistan
  • Hafiz Muhammad Talha Waleed Department of Plant Pathology, College of Agriculture, University of Sargodha, Sargodha-40100, Pakistan
  • Judith J Kiptoo School of Biological and Physical Sciences, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.69565/mls.v4i1.452

Keywords:

Plant pathogenic fungi, genomics, CRISPR, RNA interference, fungal taxonomy, disease management, next-generation sequencing

Abstract

Plant pathogenic fungi represent a significant and persistent threat to global agriculture, causing substantial yield losses and posing serious risks to food security. In recent years, advancements in genomics and molecular biology have revolutionized the study of these pathogens providing deeper insights into their evolution, diversity, and mechanisms of infection. This review presents a comprehensive overview of recent progress in the genetics and genomics of plant pathogenic fungi, with a particular focus on taxonomy and species delimitation, host-pathogen interactions and molecular mechanisms of pathogenicity. Modern approaches, including multilocus phylogenetics, next-generation sequencing and functional genomics, have greatly enhanced the accuracy of pathogen identification and the understanding of virulence factors such as effector proteins, toxins and regulatory genes. Additionally, the integration of multi-omics technologies has enabled a more holistic analysis of fungal biology during infection. The review also highlights the growing role of emerging technologies, including RNA interference, CRISPR-based genome editing and artificial intelligence in advancing fungal research and developing innovative disease management strategies. These tools offer promising avenues for the identification of novel targets, improvement of resistant crop varieties and implementation of sustainable agricultural practices. Despite these advancements, challenges remain in translating genomic data into practical applications and in standardizing taxonomic frameworks across diverse fungal groups. Overall, this review emphasizes the importance of integrating genomics with ecological and agricultural approaches to effectively manage plant fungal diseases and ensure long term crop productivity.

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Published

2025-06-30

How to Cite

Fareed, M. A., Rehman, M. U., Iqbal, S., Mutti, A., Asghar, S., Khaliq, M., Mateen, M. T., Nasir, R., Bilqees, I., Bashir, S., Waleed, H. M. T., & Kiptoo , J. J. (2025). Genomics-Driven Insights into Plant Pathogenic Fungi: Emerging Mechanisms, Evolution, and Sustainable Control Strategies. Medical and Life Sciences, 4(1), 10–19. https://doi.org/10.69565/mls.v4i1.452

Issue

Vol. 4 No. 1 (2025): Volume 4(1)

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