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Abstract Pathogens significantly influence natural and agricultural ecosystems, playing a crucial role in the regulation of species populations and maintaining biodiversity. Entomopathogenic fungi (EF), particularly within the Hypocreales order, exemplify understudied pathogens that infect insects and other arthropods globally. Despite their ecological importance, comprehensive data on EF host specificity and geographical distribution are lacking. To address this, we present EntomoFun 1.0, an open-access database centralizing global records of EF–insect associations in Hypocreales. This database includes 1,791 records detailing EF species, insect host taxa, countries of occurrence, life stages of hosts, and information sources. EntomoFun 1.0 is constructed based on 600 literature sources, as well as herbarium specimens of the Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew. This database is intended to test hypotheses, identify knowledge gaps, and stimulate future research. Contents of the EntomoFun 1.0 database are visualized with a global map, taxonomic chart, bipartite community network, and graphs.

Significant attention is focused on mushrooms and mushroom protein hydrolysates owing to their sustainability and nutritional profile with different uses in diverse industries. This review examines the composition, functional properties, production methods and applications of mushroom protein hydrolysates. It commenced with a brief overview of protein hydrolysates where their importance and applications in food, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and agricultural industries were explored. The significance of mushrooms as alternatives to animal proteins applicable to producing protein hydrolysates was discussed. Methods including conventional (chemical and enzymatic) extraction, ultrasound-assisted and microwave-assisted extractions used to extract proteins during protein hydrolysates production were discussed. Using enzyme-assisted-ultrasound-extraction to enhance protein extraction efficiency is exclusively highlighted as a promising technique. To obtain enhanced protein yield and quality, and protein hydrolysates with desired characteristics, crucial factors consisting of pH, temperature, extraction time, solvent type, enzyme concentration and ratio-of-substrate-concentration need to be optimized. The physicochemical and functional properties of mushroom protein hydrolysates are summarized. Variability of mushroom species, extraction efficiency, enzyme selection and cost, standardization, and consumer perception which constitute challenges and limitations for production and application of mushroom protein hydrolysates are addressed. Research should be conducted to optimize extraction and hydrolysis processes and explore new mushroom species.

Orchids are a diverse and widespread family of flowering plants, with over 25,000 known species and more than 100,000 hybrids and cultivars. Orchids are characterised by their often showy and highly specialised flowers and have unique and intricate floral. Orchids are known to be highly dependent on their mycorrhizal fungi for nutrient uptake, especially during the early stages of their development. Orchid seeds lack the endosperm present in most other seeds, which means they cannot germinate without a source of nutrition. The relationship between orchids and mycorrhiza is known as orchid mycorrhizae or orchid mycorrhiza. In orchid mycorrhiza, the orchid plant forms a mutualistic relationship with certain species of fungi that are able to penetrate the orchid’s roots and colonise its tissues to provides the orchid with essential nutrients. Orchid mycorrhizal fungi are often highly specific, meaning that they can only form partnerships with certain orchid species, and vice versa. The importance of mycorrhizal fungi in the orchid life cycle is crucial from both evolutionary and ecological standpoints. Therefore, it is essential to acquire a thorough comprehension of this relationship and develop methodologies for isolating, identifying, and preserving significant fungal strains that are associated with different orchid species. In recent years, there has been a considerable increase in research concentration on mycorrhizal interactions in orchids. However, certain inquiries remain unresolved pertaining to the fungal communities associated with orchids as well as the divergences notices across different species and geographical locales. The present paper provides a through, and extensive analysis of the fungal life associated with orchids. This article presents a succinct overview of the molecular techniques utilised by researchers globally to isolate and identify peloton-forming fungi in both temperate terrestrial and tropical orchids. The review begins by proving a concise introduction to the background material regarding the wide range of fungal species that are linked with orchids. It then proceeds to explores the topic of orchid mycorrhizal fungi (OMF) and orchid non-mycorrhizal fungi (ONF). The subsequent analysis explores the crucial function that orchid mycorrhizal fungi play in the processes of seed germination and development. Moreover, the study elaborates on the methodologies utilised for isolating fungi, extracting fungal DNA, selecting primers, amplifying DNA and subsequent analysis sequence data. This article considers several molecular identification approaches that are used in studying orchid endophytic mycorrhizal. Using molecular approaches, orchid mycorrhizal can be further explored and identified.

Durian (Durio zibethinus) brings in princely revenue for the fruit economy in Southeast Asia, ushering the current trend of clearing forests for durian plantations. Despite the thorny fruit’s popularity and increasing bat-durian papers, not many associate their vital plant-pollinator relationship. This unfamiliarity has led to the persisting negative connotations of bats as agricultural pests and worse, a disease carrier amplified by the Covid-19 pandemic. This review focuses on the bat-durian relationship comprising botanical insights and pollination ecology in relevance to the wider pteropodid-plant interactions. The majority of the studies compiled have concluded that bats are the most effective pollinator for durian than insects. Six fruit bat species (Chiroptera: Pteropodidae) have been recorded pollinating durian flowers, with several other pteropodid species speculated to pollinate durian, including in non-native countries. Lastly, we address the research gaps for the bat-durian relationship, which can also be applied to other chiropterophilous plants.

Premise: Southern Africa is a biodiversity hotspot rich in endemic plants and lichen‐forming fungi. However, species‐level data about lichen photobionts in this region are minimal. We focused on Trebouxia (Chlorophyta), the most common lichen photobiont, to understand how southern African species fit into the global biodiversity of this genus and are distributed across biomes and mycobiont partners. Methods: We sequenced Trebouxia nuclear ribosomal ITS and rbcL of 139 lichen thalli from diverse biomes in South Africa and Namibia. Global Trebouxia phylogenies incorporating these new data were inferred with a maximum likelihood approach. Trebouxia biodiversity, biogeography, and mycobiont–photobiont associations were assessed in phylogenetic and ecological network frameworks. Results: An estimated 43 putative Trebouxia species were found across the region, including seven potentially endemic species. Only five clades represent formally described species: T. arboricola s.l. (A13), T. cf. cretacea (A01), T. incrustata (A06), T. lynniae (A39), and T. maresiae (A46). Potential endemic species were not significantly associated with the Greater Cape Floristic Region or desert. Trebouxia species occurred frequently across multiple biomes. Annual precipitation, but not precipitation seasonality, was significant in explaining variation in Trebouxia communities. Consistent with other studies of lichen photobionts, the Trebouxia–mycobiont network had an anti‐nested structure. Conclusions: Depending on the metric used, ca. 20–30% of global Trebouxia biodiversity occurs in southern Africa, including many species yet to be described. With a classification scheme for Trebouxia now well established, tree‐based approaches are preferable over "barcode gap" methods for delimiting new species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Objective Coronaviruses (CoVs) are natural commensals of bats. Two subgenera, namely Sarbecoviruses and Merbecoviruses have a high zoonotic potential and have been associated with three separate spillover events in the past 2 decades, making surveillance of bat-CoVs crucial for the prevention of the next epidemic. The study was aimed to elucidate the presence of coronavirus in fresh bat guano sampled from Wind Cave Nature Reserve (WCNR) in Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo. Samples collected were placed into viral transport medium, transported on ice within the collection day, and preserved at − 80 °C. Nucleic acid was extracted using the column method and screened using consensus PCR primers targeting the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) gene. Amplicons were sequenced bidirectionally using the Sanger method. Phylogenetic tree with maximum-likelihood bootstrap and Bayesian posterior probability were constructed. Results CoV-RNA was detected in ten specimens (47.6%, n = 21). Six alphacoronavirus and four betacoronaviruses were identified. The bat-CoVs can be phylogenetically grouped into four novel clades which are closely related to Decacovirus-1 and Decacovirus-2, Sarbecovirus, and an unclassified CoV. CoVs lineages unique to the Island of Borneo were discovered in Sarawak, Malaysia, with one of them closely related to Sarbecovirus. All of them are distant from currently known human coronaviruses.

Logging and forest conversion are occurring at alarming rates in tropical forests. These disturbances alter soil microbial community structure and functions. While direct links between changes in soil properties, such as pH and microbial community structure are well established, the indirect effects of logging and forest conversion on soil microbial community structure and functions are poorly understood. We used a space-for-time substitution to investigate the changes in soil microbial diversity and functions across a forest recovery gradient in the tropical montane forests of northern Borneo. We used surface (top 5 cm) soil to assess soil physicochemical and microbial (next-generation DNA sequencing) properties, and standardized litterbags (Tea Bag Index) to assess litter decomposition and stabilization. Our results show that bacterial and fungal diversity increases with recovery time and reaches pre-disturbance levels between 60- and 80-years post-disturbance. Litter decomposition rate constants increased linearly with increasing bacterial and fungal diversity. Litter stabilization also increased linearly with fungal diversity, but was highest at intermediate levels of bacterial diversity. Our results provide insights on the effects of forest logging and conversion on soils and highlight the tight coupling between soil microbial diversity and soil functions in tropical montane forests.

The island of Borneo is a global biodiversity hotspot. However, its limestone caves are one of its least-studied ecosystems. We report for the first time the fungal species richness, diversity and abundance from Madai cave, situated in north-eastern Borneo. Environmental samples from inside the cave environment were collected (guano, speleothem, and cavern water) via opportunistic sampling. The dilution method was performed for isolation of fungi. Morphological characterisation and molecular analysis of the ITS region were utilised for the identification of isolates. Fifty-five pure cultures of fungi were attained, comprising 32 species from 15 genera, eight orders, and two divisions, Ascomycota and Basidiomycota. Ascomycetes dominated the fungal composition, accounting for 53 (96%) out of 55 total isolates. Penicillium spp. accounted for more than 47.1% of fungal abundance in all sample types. However, Aspergillus spp. had the highest occurrence rate, being isolated from all environmental samples except one. Purpureocillium lilacinum was isolated most frequently, appearing in five separate samples across all three substrates. Annulohypoxylon nitens, Ganoderma australe, Pyrrhoderma noxium, and Xylaria feejeensis were discovered and reported for the first time from the cave environment. This study provides additional data for further research on the mycoflora of Sabah’s various ecosystems, especially limestone caves.

This review identifies terpenes isolated from the medicinal Angiosperms of Asia and the Pacific with antibacterial and/or antifungal activities and analyses their distribution, molecular mass, solubility, and modes of action. All data in this review were compiled from Google Scholar, PubMed, Science Direct, Web of Science, ChemSpider, PubChem, and library searches from 1968 to 2022. About 300 antibacterial and/or antifungal terpenes were identified during this period. Terpenes with a MIC ≤ 2 µg/mL are mostly amphiphilic and active against Gram-positive bacteria, with a molecular mass ranging from about 150 to 550 g/mol, and a polar surface area around 20 Ų. Carvacrol, celastrol, cuminol, dysoxyhainic acid I, ent-1β,14β-diacetoxy-7α-hydroxykaur-16-en-15-one, ergosterol-5,8-endoperoxide, geranylgeraniol, gossypol, 16α-hydroxy-cleroda-3,13 (14)Z-diene-15,16-olide, 7-hydroxycadalene, 17-hydroxyjolkinolide B, (20R)-3β-hydroxy-24,25,26,27-tetranor-5α cycloartan-23,21-olide, mansonone F, (+)-6,6′-methoxygossypol, polygodial, pristimerin, terpinen-4-ol, and α-terpineol are chemical frameworks that could be candidates for the further development of lead antibacterial or antifungal drugs.

The study revisits the taxonomic classification and ecological distribution of Panus velutinus and Panus similis, formerly known as Lentinus velutinus and Lentinus similis, respectively. A total of 45 samples were collected from five distinct conservation areas in Sabah, Malaysia. Detailed morphological analyses and DNA sequencing of the Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) region were employed to reassess species identity and distribution. Phylogenetic analyses confirmed the distinct species status of P. velutinus and P. similis, with both species forming separate, well-supported clades (bootstrap support ≥ 70%; posterior probability ≥ 0.9). Notable morphological differences were observed, particularly in basidiospore size, pileus texture, and gleocystidia measurements. Panus velutinus exhibited larger basidiospores (6.5-7 x 3-4 µm) and broader ecological adaptability compared to P. similis (4.5-6 x 2-3 µm), which displayed a more restricted distribution. These findings enhance the taxonomic understanding of these species and highlight the importance of integrating molecular and morphological data to clarify species boundaries within the genus Panus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cantharellus cuticulatus, first described by E.J.H. Corner in 1966, is an edible mushroom distinguished by its vibrant yellow-orange cap, lamellae-like hymenium and the absence of clamp connections. This study reveals a significant shift in its distribution from the high-altitude regions of Mount Kinabalu to lowland areas, raising interesting questions about its habitat preferences and associated host plants. The research was conducted between 2021 and 2023, involving comprehensive macro- and micro-morphological analyses, as well as molecular identification techniques. After a hiatus of over half a century without any new records in Sabah, the study has successfully collected three Cantharellus cuticulatus specimens from three different districts in Sabah. To date, this species has only been documented in Peninsular Malaysia and Northern Borneo (Sabah, Sarawak and Brunei). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fungal studies are scant within this region of Borneo, and the potential effects of anthropogenic disturbance on fungal communities in Sabahan caves have not been explored. This study involved opportunistic sampling of guano, speleothems, and cavern water from four caves in Sabah, Malaysia, categorised according to the level of anthropogenic activity. The dilution method was used for fungal isolation and abundance calculations. Morphological identification of axenic cultures was conducted, and DNA barcoding of the ITS region of cryptic species corroborated identification. A total of 170 axenic cultures were attained, composed of 69 morphological taxonomic units (MTUs), 33 genera, ten orders, and two divisions -- Ascomycota and Basidiomycota. Fifty-seven of the 69 MTUs were identified to the species level. The genera Aspergillus and Penicillium were particularly prevalent, with a combined total of 86 isolations (50.6%). Notably, twelve species were documented for the first time in cave ecosystems of Sabah. The average fungal abundance across all substrates and fungal taxa occurrence was found to be higher in samples found in active caves. A significant difference in relative abundance was observed between active and non-active cave conditions. Beta regression modelling indicated that anthropogenic activity is a significant factor influencing the composition of cave fungal communities. While anthropogenic activity seems to affect cave mycobiomes, especially by selecting for ubiquitous fungi, it is likely not the sole influencing determinant of their composition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lignosus hainanensis was discovered in the Hainan Island, China, a decade ago, marking the only known occurrence of this species worldwide. This study provides the first report of Lignosus hainanensis from the Kadamaian Forest in Sabah (Northern Borneo), Malaysia, including detailed macro- and micromorphological descriptions, supported by molecular analyses. The morphological characteristics of the Malaysian collection was matched with the description of Lignosus hainanensis from the Hainan Island, China. Despite similarities in basidiocarps, Malaysian L. hainanensis showed similar hymenophore and basidiospore in terms of size, but with slightly different basidiospore shapes. Phylogenetic analysis of the Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) region strongly supported the phylogenetic placement of the Malaysian collection alongside the Chinese collections. This study confirmed the occurrence of Lignosus hainanensis in Sabah, Malaysia, marking its first recorded presence in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peltigera serusiauxii is proposed here as a new species from Papua New Guinea and Sabah, northern Borneo (Malaysia). The species belongs to the polydactyloid clade of section Polydactylon . Because of its large thalli with a glabrous upper surface, this species was previously identified as P. dolichorhiza , but it differs by its polydactylon-type lower surface and the high amount of dolichorrhizin. It appears to be a strict specialist in its association with Nostoc phylogroup IX throughout its known distribution. This is one of many undescribed species remaining to be formally described within the genus Peltigera , especially in Asia and Australasia.

The genus Termitomyces (Lyophyllaceae, Basidiomycota) is often associated with fungus-feeding termites (Macrotermitinae) due to their strong symbiotic relationships. The genus is widely found exclusively in certain regions of Africa and Asia. They are recognized as edible mushroom within Southeast Asia as well. But it is often misidentified based on morphology by the local communities especially in Malaysia for Chlorophyllum molybdites which is a highly poisonous mushroom. Thus, it is necessary to study the genus for Malaysia with the synergy of using both morphological and molecular identification. In this study, we aim to describe another new species as an addition to the genus Termitomyces found within Sabah, Malaysia. We generated two new sequences (nrLSU and mtSSU) for the new species and a total of 28 nrLSU and mtSSU sequences were retrieved from GenBank for the phylogenetic analysis using maximum likelihood and Bayesian inferences. We identified that the new collection from Sabah province is a new species and named as Termitomyces gilvus based on the termites found in the mound. A phylogeny tree made from the concatenated genes of LSU and mtSSU suggests that T. gilvus is closely related to T. bulborhizus from China. According to our results, the combination of molecular and morphology proved to be a robust approach to re-evaluate the taxonomic status of Termitomyces species in Malaysia. Additional surveys are needed to verify the species diversity and clarify their geographic distribution.

Auricularia cornea, or wood ear mushroom (WEM), is an edible macrofungus that is popular as a delicacy and for various biological activities. This study aims to determine the nutrient composition, in vitro antioxidant activities and the effect on postprandial blood glucose in human subjects after consuming instant noodles incorporated with 5% WEM powder. The proximate composition of WEM powder was 9.76% moisture, 2.40% ash, 7.52% protein, 0.15% fat, 37.96% crude fibre, 42.21% carbohydrate, and a total dietary fibre was 69.43%. Meanwhile, the proximate composition of 5% WEM noodles was 10.21% moisture, 2.87% ash, 11.37% protein, 0.16% fat, 5.68% crude fibre and 68.96% carbohydrates, while the total dietary fibre was 13.30%. The mineral content of WEM powder in decreasing order: potassium > calcium > magnesium > sodium > iron > zinc > manganese > copper > selenium > chromium. The incorporation of 5% WEM powder significantly (p < 0.05) reduced carbohydrates and increased the ash, crude fibre and total dietary fibre, antioxidant activities and total phenolic content of the instant noodles. Furthermore, the incorporation of 5% WEM significantly increased potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, and zinc content. The addition of WEM powder reduced the postprandial glycaemic response and produced a moderate glycaemic index (GI). In conclusion, the incorporation with WEM powder could be an effective way of developing nutritious and low GI instant noodles, thus, improving nutrient intake and human health.

The oyster mushroom (Pleurotus species) is a popular and widely cultivated edible mushroom that can be found worldwide, including in Malaysia. However, its local production is unable to fulfil the market demand, partly due to the limited availability of rubber wood sawdust (RWS) as the conventional cultivation substrate. Furthermore, the palm oil industry in Malaysia generates large volumes of organic by-products that have caused environmental concerns. Therefore, the potential utilisation of oil palm waste-based substrates in order to develop a substitute RWS for Pleurotus ostreatus mushroom production is evaluated in this study, based on their agronomic performance and nutritional properties. Empty fruit bunches (EFBs), oil palm fronds (OPFs), and oil palm trunks (OPTs) were used to formulate the substrates. The control used was 100% RWS. Generally, 100% EFB showed a better agronomic performance, and mushroom growth was 1.9 times faster compared to the control, with a comparable mushroom yield. The crude protein and beta glucan content of mushrooms grown on oil palm by-product-formulated substrates were significantly higher than those grown using the control. Additionally, the number of fruiting bodies, crude protein, and beta glucan content of the mushrooms were positively correlated with potassium in the substrate. Therefore, 100% EFB could be used as a potential substitute for RWS for the cultivation and production of P. ostreatus.

Recent advancements in composites involve integrating natural fibers into polymer matrices as a reinforcement or filler. This approach offers several benefits, including eco-friendliness, abundant natural materials, exceptional strength, cost-effectiveness, and simple extraction methods. Substituting synthetic materials with natural ones has environmental advantages, as some synthetics release toxins at high temperatures. Natural materials reduce the risk of toxic emissions, fostering a safer environment. Thus, our research centers on experimentally characterizing Fishtail Palm Leaf Stalk Fiber (FPLSF) through methods like Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), single fiber tensile test, and scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis. These techniques unveil insights into composition, structure, thermal properties, strength, and morphology. Results highlight FPLSF's attributes: 63.67% cellulose, 1473 kg/m³ density, 380.85 µm diameter, 31.37% crystallinity index, 249.23 MPa tensile strength, and 326°C thermal stability. In addition, the sound absorption properties such as sound absorption coefficient (SAC) and noise reduction coefficient (NRC) are found to be 0.34 and 0.39, respectively. FPLSF's properties suggest its potential as an alternative reinforcement in composite manufacturing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose a taxonomic revision of the two closely related white-rot polypore species, Skeletocutis nivea (Jungh.) Jean Keller and S. ochroalba Niemelä (Incrustoporiaceae, Basidiomycota), based on phylogenetic analyses of nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and translation elongation factor EF-1α sequences. We show that prevailing morphological species concepts of S. nivea and S. ochroalba are non-monophyletic and we delineate new species boundaries based on phylogenetic inference. We recognise eleven species within the prevailing species concept of S. nivea (S. calida sp. nov., S. coprosmae comb. nov., S. futilis sp. nov., S. impervia sp. nov., S. ipuletii sp. nov., S. lepida sp. nov., S. nemoralis sp. nov., S. nivea sensu typi, S. semipileata comb. nov., S. unguina sp. nov. and S. yuchengii sp. nov.) and assign new sequenced epitypes for S. nivea and S. semipileata. The traditional concept of S. ochroalba comprises two independent lineages embedded within the S. nivea species complex. The Eurasian conifer-dwelling species S. cummata sp. nov. is recognised as separate from the North American S. ochroalba sensu stricto. Despite comprehensive microscopic examination, the majority of the recognised species are left without stable diagnostic character combinations that would enable species identification based solely on morphology and ecology.

Soft corals are widely distributed across the globe, especially in the Indo-Pacific region, with Sarcophyton being one of the most abundant genera. To date, there have been 50 species of identified Sarcophyton. These soft corals host a diverse range of marine fungi, which produce chemically diverse, bioactive secondary metabolites as part of their symbiotic nature with the soft coral hosts. The most prolific groups of compounds are terpenoids and indole alkaloids. Annually, there are more bio-active compounds being isolated and characterised. Thus, the importance of the metabolite compilation is very much important for future reference. This paper compiles the diversity of Sarcophyton species and metabolites produced by their associated marine fungi, as well as the bioactivity of these identified compounds. A total of 88 metabolites of structural diversity are highlighted, indicating the huge potential these symbiotic relationships hold for future research.

In this study, we introduce a novel concept, the Neutrosophic Inverse Soft Expert Set (NISES), and apply it to the Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (FMEA) framework. Developed by NASA, FMEA is a robust tool for addressing industrial challenges. Our approach leverages the Evaluation based on Distance from Average Solution (EDAS) algorithm to solve FMEA problems. We implement this methodology in a real-world scenario involving a steam valve with eight distinct failure modes. Through rigorous analysis, we employ the Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) to rank the identified failure modes. Comparing our FMEA model, which integrates rough set theory and TOPSIS, with the conventional method, we demonstrate the superior efficiency of our approach. Additionally, we extend the application of Neutrosophic Inverse Soft Expert Sets using the Additive Ratio Assessment-Simplified Version (ARASSV) method. This innovative method facilitates a quantitative assessment of alternative options based on multiple attributes, allowing for a precise determination of the optimal choice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Overlooking the importance of insect disease can have disastrous effects on insect conservation. This study reported the microfungi that infect Pteroptyx bearni eggs and larvae during ex-situ rearing project. Two different species of microfungi that infected the firefly’s immature life stages were isolated and identified. Penicillium citrinum infected the firefly’s eggs while Trichoderma harzianum infected the firefly during the larval stage. Both microfungi species caused absolute mortality once infection was observed; out of 244 individual eggs collected, 75 eggs (32.5%) were infected by Penicillium citrinum. All 13 larvae that hatched from the uninfected eggs were infected by Trichoderma harzianum. This study was the first to document the infection of Pteroptyx bearni’s eggs and larvae by Penicillium citrinum and Trichoderma harzianum.

Durian (Durio zibethinus) brings in princely revenue for the fruit economy in Southeast Asia, ushering the current trend of clearing forests for durian plantations. Despite the thorny fruit's popularity and increasing bat-durian papers, not many associate their vital plant-pollinator relationship. This unfamiliarity has led to the persisting negative connotations of bats as agricultural pests and worse, a disease carrier amplified by the Covid-19 pandemic. This review focuses on the bat-durian relationship comprising botanical insights and pollination ecology in relevance to the wider pteropodid-plant interactions. The majority of the studies compiled have concluded that bats are the most effective pollinator for durian than insects. Six fruit bat species (Chiroptera: Pteropodidae) have been recorded pollinating durian flowers, with several other pteropodid species speculated to pollinate durian, including in non-native countries. Lastly, we address the research gaps for the bat-durian relationship, which can also be applied to other chiropterophilous plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]