Mycoviruses: a hitherto unknown member of the soil food web

Mycoviruses, also referred to as fungal viruses, are widespread among fungi including the saprophytic, beneficial or plant pathogenic fungi. The current dogma states that mycoviruses are intracellularly transmitted via cell division, spores or hyphal contact and only have mild or no effect on the fungal host. This project aims to challenge this dogma, since we propose that extracellular mycoviruses exist and are capable of killing their fungal host. Documenting the extracellular route of infection will redefine mycoviruses and their significant contribution to the soil food web by killing specific fungi and affecting carbon and nutrient turnover.