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Plant Pathogen Interactions: 2nd Edition
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Plant Pathogen Interactions: 2nd Edition

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Plant Sciences".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 April 2025) | Viewed by 11462

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Jessie Fernandez

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
Interests: fungal biology; plant pathogens; plant–microbe interactions; effector biology; rice blast disease
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Sixue Chen

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Biology, University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS 38677, USA
Interests: plant disease triangle; glucosinolate metabolism; guard cell signal transduction
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Plant pathogens represent a significant threat to agricultural systems, causing major damage to the food industry worldwide. Pathogens are constantly adapting to evade or suppress plant defense responses to cause disease. Despite this, plants have evolved sophisticated approaches to recognize and restrict the pathogen to the infection site. A unique and intimate association between plant and pathogens is created as they are in a constant arms race to coexist or compete for survival in nature. Deciphering how plant–pathogen interactions are established is not only an essential aspect in plant pathology but also extremely important for crop improvement, sustainability, and global food security.

Leading by Dr. Jessie Fernandez and Prof. Dr. Sixue Chen and assisting by our Topical Advisory Panel Member Dr. Tomasz Maciąg (Department of Phytopathology, The National Institute of Horticultural Research, Pomologiczna 13a, 96-100 Skierniewice, Poland), this Special Issue on “Plant–Pathogen Interactions” welcomes original research and review articles that present recent advances in the field, with a focus on but not limited to the molecular mechanisms underlining disease progression, effector biology, plant immunity, and virulence factors. New molecular approaches or tools (including omics or multi-omics) to study plant–pathogens interactions are also welcome.

Dr. Jessie Fernandez
Prof. Dr. Sixue Chen
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • pathogenicity
  • plant immunity
  • pattern-triggered immunity (PTI)
  • effector-triggered immunity (ETI)
  • effectors
  • avirulent
  • virulent
  • biotroph
  • necrotroph
  • interactions

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Related Special Issues

Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

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22 pages, 11281 KiB  
Article
A Novel CFEM Effector in Fusarium verticillioides Required for Virulence Involved in Plant Immunity Suppression and Fungal Cell Wall Integrity
by Huan Li, Shumila Ishfaq, Xiaoyan Liang, Rui Wang, Hailei Wei and Wei Guo
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(9), 4369; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26094369 - 4 May 2025
Viewed by 338
Abstract
Common in Fungal Extracellular Membrane (CFEM) effectors, a unique class of fungal-specific proteins, play critical roles in host-pathogen interactions. While CFEM proteins have been extensively characterized in phytopathogens, their presence and functions in Fusarium verticillioides remained unexplored. Here, we systematically identified 19 CFEM-containing [...] Read more.
Common in Fungal Extracellular Membrane (CFEM) effectors, a unique class of fungal-specific proteins, play critical roles in host-pathogen interactions. While CFEM proteins have been extensively characterized in phytopathogens, their presence and functions in Fusarium verticillioides remained unexplored. Here, we systematically identified 19 CFEM-containing proteins in F. verticillioides, among which FvCFEM12 exhibited secretory activity and plant infection-induced expression. Functional characterization revealed that FvCFEM12 suppressed Bax- and INF1-triggered cell death in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves. Furthermore, heterologous expression of FvCFEM12 in maize leaves using P. syringae strain D36E can compromise immune responses against bacterial pathogens. Deletion of FvCFEM12 impaired fungal virulence, altered hyphal morphology, and reduced cell wall stress tolerance. Interestingly, FvCFEM12 physically interacted with the maize wall-associated receptor kinase ZmWAK17ET, and targeted silencing of ZmWAK17 in maize enhanced susceptibility to F. verticillioides. Our findings revealed that FvCFEM12 is a dual-function effector that suppresses plant immunity and maintains fungal cell wall integrity, thereby orchestrating fungal pathogenicity at the host–pathogen interface. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Pathogen Interactions: 2nd Edition)
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16 pages, 9040 KiB  
Article
The Essentials of PgPG1, a Polygalacturonase-Encoding Gene for the Invasion of Pyrenophora graminea to Hordeum vulgare
by Erjing Si, Ming Guo, Haiying Liu, Chengdao Li, Juncheng Wang, Lirong Yao, Yaxiong Meng, Xiaole Ma, Baochun Li, Ke Yang, Xunwu Shang and Huajun Wang
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(6), 2401; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26062401 - 7 Mar 2025
Viewed by 413
Abstract
Barley leaf stripe, caused by Pyrenophora graminea, significantly reduces yield. Polygalacturonase, a key fungal pectinase, facilitates cell wall degradation for nutrition acquisition and colonization. To determine whether P. graminea contains polygalacturonase (PgPG)-encoding genes and their role in pathogenicity, four PgPG [...] Read more.
Barley leaf stripe, caused by Pyrenophora graminea, significantly reduces yield. Polygalacturonase, a key fungal pectinase, facilitates cell wall degradation for nutrition acquisition and colonization. To determine whether P. graminea contains polygalacturonase (PgPG)-encoding genes and their role in pathogenicity, four PgPG genes (PgPG1–PgPG4) were identified in the P. graminea genome. Quantitative RT-PCR revealed that PgPG1 had the highest inducible expression during barley infection, suggesting its critical vital role in pathogenesis. PgPG1 was silenced and overexpressed in P. graminea QWC (wild-type) using CaCl2-PEG4000-mediated protoplast transformation. The PgPG1 RNAi mutants exhibited slower growth, while overexpression mutants grew faster. Relative to the wild-type, the disease incidence of Alexis, a highly susceptible barley variety, decreased by 62.94%, 42.19%, 45.74%, and 40.67% for RNAi mutants, and increased by 12.73%, 12.10%, 12.63%, and 10.31% for overexpression mutants. Pathogenicity analysis showed decreased disease incidence with PgPG1 RNAi mutants and increased severity with overexpression mutants. Trypan blue staining and polygalacturonase activity assays confirmed that overexpression mutants caused more severe damage compared to wild-type and RNAi mutants. These findings indicate that PgPG1 plays a vital role in the pathogenicity of P. graminea in barley and has great potential as a pathogen target gene to develop a durable resistance variety to P. graminea. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Pathogen Interactions: 2nd Edition)
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14 pages, 1641 KiB  
Article
The PpPep2-Triggered PTI-like Response in Peach Trees Is Mediated by miRNAs
by Laura Foix, Maria Pla, Beatriz Martín-Mur, Anna Esteve-Codina and Anna Nadal
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(23), 13099; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms252313099 - 5 Dec 2024
Viewed by 848
Abstract
Plant diseases diminish crop yields and put the world’s food supply at risk. Plant elicitor peptides (Peps) are innate danger signals inducing defense responses both naturally and after external application onto plants. Pep-triggered defense networks are compatible with pattern-triggered immunity (PTI). Nevertheless, in [...] Read more.
Plant diseases diminish crop yields and put the world’s food supply at risk. Plant elicitor peptides (Peps) are innate danger signals inducing defense responses both naturally and after external application onto plants. Pep-triggered defense networks are compatible with pattern-triggered immunity (PTI). Nevertheless, in complex regulatory pathways, there is crosstalk among different signaling pathways, involving noncoding RNAs in the natural response to pathogen attack. Here, we used Prunus persica, PpPep2 and a miRNA-Seq approach to show for the first time that Peps regulate, in parallel with a set of protein-coding genes, a set of plant miRNAs (~15%). Some PpPep2-regulated miRNAs have been described to participate in the response to pathogens in various plant–pathogen systems. In addition, numerous predicted target mRNAs of PpPep2-regulated miRNAs are themselves regulated by PpPep2 in peach trees. As an example, peach miRNA156 and miRNA390 probably have a role in plant development regulation under stress conditions, while others, such as miRNA482 and miRNA395, would be involved in the regulation of resistance (R) genes and sulfate-mediated protection against oxygen free radicals, respectively. This adds to the established role of Peps in triggering plant defense systems by incorporating the miRNA regulatory network and to the possible use of Peps as sustainable phytosanitary products. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Pathogen Interactions: 2nd Edition)
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15 pages, 6200 KiB  
Article
Identification of Host Factors Interacting with Movement Proteins of the 30K Family in Nicotiana tabacum
by David Villar-Álvarez, Mikhail Oliveira Leastro, Vicente Pallas and Jesús Ángel Sánchez-Navarro
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(22), 12251; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms252212251 - 14 Nov 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1082
Abstract
The interaction of viral proteins with host factors represents a crucial aspect of the infection process in plants. In this work, we developed a strategy to identify host factors in Nicotiana tabacum that interact with movement proteins (MPs) of the 30K family, a [...] Read more.
The interaction of viral proteins with host factors represents a crucial aspect of the infection process in plants. In this work, we developed a strategy to identify host factors in Nicotiana tabacum that interact with movement proteins (MPs) of the 30K family, a group of viral proteins around 30 kDa related to the MP of tobacco mosaic virus, which enables virus movement between plant cells. Using the alfalfa mosaic virus (AMV) MP as a model, we incorporated tags into its coding sequence, without affecting its functionality, enabling the identification of 121 potential interactors through in vivo immunoprecipitation of the tagged MP. Further analysis of five selected candidates (histone 2B (H2B), actin, 14-3-3A protein, eukaryotic initiation factor 4A (elF4A), and a peroxidase-POX-) were conducted using bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC). The interactions between these factors were also studied, revealing that some form part of protein complexes associated with AMV MP. Moreover, H2B, actin, 14-3-3, and eIF4A interacted with other MPs of the 30K family. This observation suggests that, beyond functional and structural features, 30K family MPs may share common interactors. Our results demonstrate that tagging 30K family MPs is an effective strategy to identify host factors associated with these proteins during viral infection. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Pathogen Interactions: 2nd Edition)
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15 pages, 4897 KiB  
Article
FgGET3, an ATPase of the GET Pathway, Is Important for the Development and Virulence of Fusarium graminearum
by Caihong Liu, Lu Lei, Jing Zhu, Lirun Chen, Shijing Peng, Mi Zhang, Ziyi Zhang, Jie Tang, Qing Chen, Li Kong, Youliang Zheng, Maria Ladera-Carmona, Karl-Heinz Kogel, Yuming Wei and Pengfei Qi
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(22), 12172; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms252212172 - 13 Nov 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1035
Abstract
GET3 is an ATPase protein that plays a pivotal role in the guided entry of the tail-anchored (GET) pathway. The protein facilitates the targeting and inserting of tail-anchored (TA) proteins into the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) by interacting with a receptor protein complex on [...] Read more.
GET3 is an ATPase protein that plays a pivotal role in the guided entry of the tail-anchored (GET) pathway. The protein facilitates the targeting and inserting of tail-anchored (TA) proteins into the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) by interacting with a receptor protein complex on the ER. The role of GET3 in various biological processes has been established in yeast, plants, and mammals but not in filamentous fungi. Fusarium graminearum is the major causal agent of Fusarium head blight (FHB), posing a threat to the yield and quality of wheat. In this study, we found that FgGET3 exhibits a high degree of sequence and structural conservation with its homologs across a wide range of organisms. Ectopic expression of FgGET3 in yeast restored the growth defects of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae ScGET3 knock-out mutant. Furthermore, FgGET3 was found to dimerize and localize to the cytoplasm, similar to its homologs in other species. Deletion of FgGET3 in F. graminearum results in decreased fungal growth, fragmented vacuoles, altered abiotic stress responses, reduced conidia production, delayed conidial germination, weakened virulence on wheat spikes and reduced DON production. Collectively, these findings underscore the critical role of FgGET3 in regulating diverse cellular and biological functions essential for the growth and virulence of F. graminearum. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Pathogen Interactions: 2nd Edition)
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20 pages, 5529 KiB  
Article
Employing Genomic Tools to Explore the Molecular Mechanisms behind the Enhancement of Plant Growth and Stress Resilience Facilitated by a Burkholderia Rhizobacterial Strain
by Yueh-Long Chang, Yu-Cheng Chang, Andi Kurniawan, Po-Chun Chang, Ting-Yu Liou, Wen-Der Wang and Huey-wen Chuang
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(11), 6091; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25116091 - 31 May 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1600
Abstract
The rhizobacterial strain BJ3 showed 16S rDNA sequence similarity to species within the Burkholderia genus. Its complete genome sequence revealed a 97% match with Burkholderia contaminans and uncovered gene clusters essential for plant-growth-promoting traits (PGPTs). These clusters include genes responsible for producing indole [...] Read more.
The rhizobacterial strain BJ3 showed 16S rDNA sequence similarity to species within the Burkholderia genus. Its complete genome sequence revealed a 97% match with Burkholderia contaminans and uncovered gene clusters essential for plant-growth-promoting traits (PGPTs). These clusters include genes responsible for producing indole acetic acid (IAA), osmolytes, non-ribosomal peptides (NRPS), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), siderophores, lipopolysaccharides, hydrolytic enzymes, and spermidine. Additionally, the genome contains genes for nitrogen fixation and phosphate solubilization, as well as a gene encoding 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase. The treatment with BJ3 enhanced root architecture, boosted vegetative growth, and accelerated early flowering in Arabidopsis. Treated seedlings also showed increased lignin production and antioxidant capabilities, as well as notably increased tolerance to water deficit and high salinity. An RNA-seq transcriptome analysis indicated that BJ3 treatment significantly activated genes related to immunity induction, hormone signaling, and vegetative growth. It specifically activated genes involved in the production of auxin, ethylene, and salicylic acid (SA), as well as genes involved in the synthesis of defense compounds like glucosinolates, camalexin, and terpenoids. The expression of AP2/ERF transcription factors was markedly increased. These findings highlight BJ3’s potential to produce various bioactive metabolites and its ability to activate auxin, ethylene, and SA signaling in Arabidopsis, positioning it as a new Burkholderia strain that could significantly improve plant growth, stress resilience, and immune function. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Pathogen Interactions: 2nd Edition)
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20 pages, 4126 KiB  
Article
The Transcriptional Regulator TfmR Directly Regulates Two Pathogenic Pathways in Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzicola
by Zheng Chang, Zengfeng Ma, Qian Su, Xinqi Xia, Wenxin Ye, Ruifang Li and Guangtao Lu
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(11), 5887; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25115887 - 28 May 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1212
Abstract
Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzicola (Xoc) is a notorious plant pathogen. Like most bacterial pathogens, Xoc has evolved a complex regulatory network to modulate the expression of various genes related to pathogenicity. Here, we have identified TfmR, a transcriptional regulator belonging to the [...] Read more.
Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzicola (Xoc) is a notorious plant pathogen. Like most bacterial pathogens, Xoc has evolved a complex regulatory network to modulate the expression of various genes related to pathogenicity. Here, we have identified TfmR, a transcriptional regulator belonging to the TetR family, as a key player in the virulence mechanisms of this phytopathogenic bacterium. We have demonstrated genetically that tfmR is involved in the hypersensitive response (HR), pathogenicity, motility and extracellular polysaccharide production of this phytopathogenic bacterium. Our investigations extended to exploring TfmR’s interaction with RpfG and HrpX, two prominent virulence regulators in Xanthomonas species. We found that TfmR directly binds to the promoter region of RpfG, thereby positively regulating its expression. Notably, constitutive expression of RpfG partly reinstates the pathogenicity compromised by TfmR-deletion mutants. Furthermore, our studies revealed that TfmR also exerts direct positive regulation on the expression of the T3SS regulator HrpX. Similar to RpfG, sustained expression of HrpX partially restores the pathogenicity of TfmR-deletion mutants. These findings underscore TfmR’s multifaceted role as a central regulator governing key virulence pathways in Xoc. Importantly, our research sheds light on the intricate molecular mechanisms underlying the regulation of pathogenicity in this plant pathogen. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Pathogen Interactions: 2nd Edition)
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14 pages, 2799 KiB  
Article
Overexpression of the First Peanut-Susceptible Gene, AhS5H1 or AhS5H2, Enhanced Susceptibility to Pst DC3000 in Arabidopsis
by Bingbing Liang, Yuanjun Bai, Chaoqun Zang, Xue Pei, Jinhui Xie, Ying Lin, Xiaozhou Liu, Taswar Ahsan and Chunhao Liang
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(18), 14210; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms241814210 - 18 Sep 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1449
Abstract
Salicylic acid (SA) serves as a pivotal plant hormone involved in regulating plant defense mechanisms against biotic stresses, but the extent of its biological significance in relation to peanut resistance is currently lacking. This study elucidated the involvement of salicylic acid (SA) in [...] Read more.
Salicylic acid (SA) serves as a pivotal plant hormone involved in regulating plant defense mechanisms against biotic stresses, but the extent of its biological significance in relation to peanut resistance is currently lacking. This study elucidated the involvement of salicylic acid (SA) in conferring broad-spectrum disease resistance in peanuts through the experimental approach of inoculating SA-treated leaves. In several other plants, the salicylate hydroxylase genes are the typical susceptible genes (S genes). Here, we characterized two SA hydroxylase genes (AhS5H1 and AhS5H2) as the first S genes in peanut. Recombinant AhS5H proteins catalyzed SA in vitro, and showed SA 5-ydroxylase (S5H) activity. Overexpression of AhS5H1 or AhS5H2 decreased SA content and increased 2,5-DHBA levels in Arabidopsis, suggesting that both enzymes had a similar role in planta. Moreover, overexpression of each AhS5H gene increased susceptibility to Pst DC3000. Analysis of the transcript levels of defense-related genes indicated that the expression of AhS5H genes, AhNPR1 and AhPR10 was simultaneously induced by chitin. Overexpression of each AhS5H in Arabidopsis abolished the induction of AtPR1 or AtPR2 upon chitin treatment. Eventually, AhS5H2 expression levels were highly correlated with SA content in different tissues of peanut. Hence, the expression of AhS5H1 and AhS5H2 was tissue-specific. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Pathogen Interactions: 2nd Edition)
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Review

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29 pages, 2972 KiB  
Review
Enhancing the Resilience of Agroecosystems Through Improved Rhizosphere Processes: A Strategic Review
by Waleed Asghar, Kelly D. Craven, Jacob R. Swenson, Ryota Kataoka, Ahmad Mahmood and Júlia Gomes Farias
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(1), 109; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26010109 - 26 Dec 2024
Viewed by 1951
Abstract
As farming practices evolve and climate conditions shift, achieving sustainable food production for a growing global population requires innovative strategies to optimize environmentally friendly practices and minimize ecological impacts. Agroecosystems, which integrate agricultural practices with the surrounding environment, play a vital role in [...] Read more.
As farming practices evolve and climate conditions shift, achieving sustainable food production for a growing global population requires innovative strategies to optimize environmentally friendly practices and minimize ecological impacts. Agroecosystems, which integrate agricultural practices with the surrounding environment, play a vital role in maintaining ecological balance and ensuring food security. Rhizosphere management has emerged as a pivotal approach to enhancing crop yields, reducing reliance on synthetic fertilizers, and supporting sustainable agriculture. The rhizosphere, a dynamic zone surrounding plant roots, hosts intense microbial activity fueled by root exudates. These exudates, along with practices such as green manure application and intercropping, significantly influence the soil’s microbial community structure. Beneficial plant-associated microbes, including Trichoderma spp., Penicillium spp., Aspergillus spp., and Bacillus spp., play a crucial role in improving nutrient cycling and promoting plant health, yet their interactions within the rhizosphere remain inadequately understood. This review explores how integrating beneficial microbes, green manures, and intercropping enhances rhizosphere processes to rebuild microbial communities, sequester carbon, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. These practices not only contribute to maintaining soil health but also foster positive plant–microbe–rhizosphere interactions that benefit entire ecosystems. By implementing such strategies alongside sound policy measures, sustainable cropping systems can be developed to address predicted climate challenges. Strengthening agroecosystem resilience through improved rhizosphere processes is essential for ensuring food security and environmental sustainability in the future. In conclusion, using these rhizosphere-driven processes, we could develop more sustainable and resilient agricultural systems that ensure food security and environmental preservation amidst changing climate situations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Pathogen Interactions: 2nd Edition)
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