Five novel ubiquitous totiviruses function as virulence-promoting symbionts in the obligate biotrophic fungus Puccinia triticina
Jinyang Li, Zhiwen Zheng, Nuoheng Wang, Huiguang Zhao, Yanan Lu, Na Liu, Pengyu Song, Zhenling Ma, Wenming Zheng, Yanhui Zhang
The paper identifies five novel totiviruses in Puccinia triticina that enhance fungal virulence by suppressing host immunity and promoting pathogenicity.
bioRxiv · Aug 28, 2026 · PreprintPlant Biology