The study, published at iScience was led by Dr. Dagan Sade under the supervision of Professor Gila Kahila of the Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment in collaboration with colleagues from the Hebrew University, Tel Aviv University, Ben-Gurion University and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, focused on Botrytis cinerea, a widespread plant pathogen responsible for gray mold disease in over 200 crop species. This fungus poses a significant threat to agriculture, resulting in billions of dollars in annual losses and presenting challenges to food security, trade, and environmental health.
 

But what happens when we revive fungi from an era before synthetic fertilizers and fungicides, before the Green Revolution fundamentally transformed how we grow food?
 

To find out, the team revived two strains of Botrytis cinerea curated at the National Natural History Collection of the Hebrew University since the early 1940s—decades before modern agrochemicals became standard in farming. These historical specimens were carefully reanimated and subjected to cutting-edge analyses, including whole-genome sequencing, transcriptomics (gene expression profiling), and metabolomics (chemical fingerprinting).
 

The findings were striking: the historical strains showed significant genetic and behavioral differences compared to modern lab strains of the same fungus. In particular, they revealed:
 

• Reduced signs of fungicide resistance, a feature that has become prominent in modern strains due to heavy chemical use;
• Differences in pathogenicity, with some traits suggesting the historical fungi were less specialized and aggressive than their contemporary counterparts;
• Adaptations to different environmental conditions, including pH tolerance and host specificity.

A Window into the Agricultural Past—and Future

The research has wide-ranging implications. In the era of climate change, pesticide overuse, and declining soil health, understanding how plant pathogens adapt to human activity is key to developing sustainable farming systems. Reviving historical microorganisms provides a baseline for this understanding—a way to distinguish between natural evolutionary changes and those driven by anthropogenic pressures.
 

“Natural history collections have always been valuable for taxonomy and museum science,” said the researchers. “But this work shows they are also dynamic resources for modern biology. They allow us to ‘rewind’ microbial evolution and anticipate future trends in plant disease.”

“Natural history collections have always been valuable for taxonomy and museum science, but this work shows they are also dynamic resources for modern biology. They allow us to ‘rewind’ microbial evolution and anticipate future trends in plant disease.” - The Research Team

The study also contributes to global efforts to predict and manage plant disease outbreaks. By revealing how pathogens adapted to previous environmental shifts, scientists can better model future risks and design resilient crop protection strategies—potentially reducing reliance on chemical treatments that harm ecosystems and accelerate resistance.
 

Reviving More Than Specimens

The success of this project speaks to a broader scientific movement: turning biological archives into tools for addressing 21st-century challenges. Whether it’s climate change, antibiotic resistance, or declining biodiversity, many of today’s most pressing problems require historical context to solve.
 

“This work is a perfect example of how past and future can intersect through science,” said the researchers. “We brought something back to life not for nostalgia, but to help build a more sustainable agricultural system.”

“This work is a perfect example of how past and future can intersect through science. We brought something back to life not for nostalgia, but to help build a more sustainable agricultural system.”  - The Research Team

The project was conducted in collaboration with genomic, microbiology, and metabolomics experts. The team hopes the findings will encourage other institutions to reassess the hidden power of their biological collections—and push for more interdisciplinary approaches to solving global food and environmental crises.

The research paper titled “From Herbarium to life: Implications of Reviving Historical Fungi for Modern Plant Pathology and Agriculture” is published at iScience and can be accessed at: https://www.cell.com/iscience/fulltext/S2589-0042(25)01165-4?_returnURL=https%3A%2F%2Flinkinghub.elsevier.com%2Fretrieve%2Fpii%2FS2589004225011654%3Fshowall%3Dtrue

For a century, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem has been a beacon for visionary minds who challenge norms and shape the future. Founded by luminaries like Albert Einstein, who entrusted his intellectual legacy to the university, it is dedicated to advancing knowledge, fostering leadership, and promoting diversity. Home to over 23,000 students from 90 countries, the Hebrew University drives much of Israel’s civilian scientific research, with over 11,000 patents and groundbreaking contributions recognized by nine Nobel Prizes, two Turing Awards, and a Fields Medal. Ranked 81st globally by the Shanghai Ranking (2024), it celebrates a century of excellence in research, education, and innovation. To learn more about the university’s academic programs, research, and achievements, visit the official website at http://new.huji.ac.il/en.