What is Hypovirulence

Mycoviruses are obligate parasites of fungi and can infect the majority of the fungal groups. They remain mysterious to various communities throughout the globe. Mycoviruses are responsible for certain changes in fungal hyphae, which could be asymptomatic and may cause a reduction or elimination of the virulence capacity of fungal hosts by the process called hypovirulence. Such fungal-virus system could be valuable for the development of novel biocontrol approaches against fungal pathogens for the development of a sustainable environment. There are adequate reports where mycovirus has been employed as a biocontrol approach against the pathogenic fungi in the fields of agriculture and other allied sciences. The prime focus of this review is to emphasize naturally available mycoviruses and strategies to adopt the mycovirus therapy which could serve as an excellent alternative strategy against chemical prophylactic and therapeutic approaches.