The Fungi are at it Again


Two fungi are causing problems in our world. One of these organisms called Aspergillis sydowii is killing sea fans. Sea fans are a type of coral found in the oceans. Coral are not plants. They are animals. No one knows for sure why the sea fans are being killed more rapidly than ever before. For more information on this story go to the ENN story.

If that wasn't bad enough another fungi called black Sigatoka (Mycosphaerella fijiensisis) is causing banana plants to be less productive. The black Sigatoka damages the foliage of the banana. Currently, the best way to kill the fungi is to spray the plant with fungicides. Unfortunately, the fungicides are way too expensive for many of the poor farmers in the tropics to apply to their plants. There may be hope still. Horticulturists (people who develop new hybrids of plants) are trying to develop a hybrid banana plant that is more resistant to this fungal infection. For more information of this story go to another ENN story.

Take Care and Think Microbiologically!

The answer to last week's poll is: The most common causes of sore throats are viruses!!

The copyright of the article The Fungi are at it Again in Microbiology is owned by Neal Rolfe Chamberlain. Permission to republish The Fungi are at it Again in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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