Described herein is a process for producing saccharides and ethanol from biomass feedstock that includes (a) producing an enzyme composition by culturing a fungal strain(s) in the presence of a lignocellulosic medium, (b) using the enzyme composition to saccharify the biomass feedstock, and (c) fermenting the saccharified biomass feedstock to produce ethanol. The process is scalable and, in certain aspects, is capable of being deployed on farms, thereby allowing local production of saccharides and ethanol and resulting in a reduction of energy and other costs for farm operators. Optional steps to improve the biomass-to-fuel conversion efficiency are also contemplated, as are uses for byproducts of the process described herein.

A filamentous fungus mutant strain showing improved secretory protein production and a method of producing a protein using the filamentous fungus are provided. The method of producing a protein comprises a step of culturing a filamentous fungus mutant strain in which a function of tubulin is reduced or lost and collecting a protein from a culture product.

A method of increasing organic carbon in a soil is disclosed. The method includes inoculating the soil and/or a plant growing in the soil with one or more fungal strains from at least one genus selected from the group consisting of Acrocalymma, Clonostachys, Leptodontidium, Periconia, Phaeosphaeria, Thozetella, Trichoderma, and a combination thereof, wherein the one or more fungal strains are in an amount effective to increase organic carbon in the soil compared to a non-inoculated control soil. Also disclosed is a method of enhancing plant growth, comprising: applying to a plant, a plant part, or the locus surrounding the plant with one or more fungal strains from at least one genus selected from the group consisting of Acrocalymma, Clonostachys, Leptodontidium, Periconia, Phaeosphaeria, Thozetella, Trichoderma, and a combination thereof in an amount effective to enhance the growth of the plant as compared to an untreated control plant.

This invention relates to compositions and methods for improving plant health, wherein a plant is heterologously disposed to one or more endophytes, or derived from a plant element heterologously disposed to one or more endophytes.

Provided are a modified filamentous fungus with improved protein productivity and a method for producing a protein using the modified filamentous fungus. The modified filamentous fungus expresses an ACE3 variant that is a variant in which substantially the whole of a Zn(II).sub.2Cys.sub.6-type DNA-binding domain of the ACE3 is deleted. The method for producing a protein includes culturing the modified filamentous fungus.

Disclosed are microbial compositions having unique combinations of microbial species which are used in plant material recycling and retting. Also disclosed microbial inoculants which contains such a microbial composition, water, and an optional carbon source. The microbial compositions and microbial inoculants are particularly useful in recycling high lignin-content plant material. Methods of making and methods of using the microbial compositions and the microbial inoculants are also described.

A filamentous fungus mutant strain in which enzyme production inhibition caused by glucose is suppressed is constructed, and a method of producing a polysaccharide-degrading enzyme, a method of producing a saccharide from biomass, and a method of saccharifying biomass, each using the filamentous fungus, are provided. The filamentous fungus mutant strain in which Sre1 expression is reduced compared to a parent strain or is lost.

A method for controlling plant viruses comprising treating plant or soil with a composition for controlling plant viruses comprising Trichodermin wherein the composition has antiviral activity against plant viruses when applied to a plant or to soil. In some embodiments, the Trichodermin is isolated from a Trichoderma albolutescens strain.

The present invention relates to a Trichoderma reesei strain which is hyper-producing and which has enhanced -glucosidase activity, as well as the use of said strain.

A novel Trichoderma harzanium strain, filed on Jun. 12, 2018 with the CNCM (Collection Nationale de Cultures de Micro-organismes), 25-28 rue du Docteur Roux, 75724 Paris Cedex 15, under number CNCM I-5327. Also, the use of this Trichoderma harzanium strain to control fusarium head blight in cereals selected from wheat, Brachypodium distachyon, triticale, oats and rye, and more particularly to combat fusarium head blight in wheat.