Data from: Insect hypovirulence-associated mycovirus confers entomopathogenic fungi with enhanced resistance against phytopathogens

Mycoviruses can alter the biological characteristics of host fungi
including decreasing or enhancing virulence or pathogenicity of
phytopathogens and entomopathogenic fungi (EPF). As an extensively used
EPF, Beauveria bassiana could not only directly control pests, but also
improve plant resistance against plant disease through endophytic
colonization. However, most studies on the mycoviruses found in B.
bassiana have focused on the effects of the viruses on the virulence of
host fungi toward insect pests, with relatively few reports on the effects
to the host fungi with regard to plant disease resistance in hosts. The
present study investigated the effects of the mycovirus Beauveria bassiana
chrysovirus 2 (BbCV2) virus infection on host biological characteristics,
additionally, we evaluated antagonistic activity of BbCV2 against
phytopathogenic fungi (Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and Botrytis cinerea) in
vitro and their associated diseases both in in vitro leaves and in pot
experiments.  Our results showed that the mycovirus, BbCV2,
enhanced the growth rate, spore production, and biomass of host fungi B.
bassiana. BbCV2 virus infection enhanced the capacity of host fungi and
their metabolic products to inhibit phytopathogenic fungi S. sclerotiorum
and B. cinerea. BbCV2 virus infection reduced the contents of the two
pathogens in tomato plants significantly, and in turn enhanced the plant
resistance induced by host fungi colonization against the diseases caused
by the two pathogens.