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Analyzing the Molecular Mechanisms of Plant Disease Pathogenesis and Host Disease Resistance

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: 30 November 2025 | Viewed by 265

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Center for R&D of Fine Chemicals of Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
Interests: organic synthesis methodology of pesticides and functional molecules; mechanisms of active molecules
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Plant diseases caused by diverse pathogens such as fungi, bacteria, and oomycetes pose a serious threat to global crop production and food security. These pathogens deploy a wide range of virulence strategies, including the secretion of effectors and toxins, the suppression of host immune responses, and the manipulation of host metabolism. In parallel, plants have evolved complex immune systems to detect and counteract pathogen invasion, involving both pattern-triggered immunity (PTI) and effector-triggered immunity (ETI).

This Special Issue focuses on the molecular mechanisms of pathogen infection and host resistance. Topics include pathogen effectors, resistance genes, immune signaling, and multi-omics analyses of plant–pathogen interactions. We also encourage submissions on innovative disease control strategies, including the use of nanocarrier-based delivery systems for plant immunity inducers, which offer enhanced precision and sustainability in crop protection.

Original research, reviews, and short communications from plant pathology, molecular biology, nanotechnology, and related fields are welcome. This Special Issue aims to showcase recent advances and foster new insights into molecular plant immunity and disease management.

Dr. Zhibing Wu
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • pathogenicity mechanisms
  • plant–pathogen interactions
  • plant immunity
  • effector biology
  • resistance genes
  • multi-omics approaches
  • nanotechnology in plant protection

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

22 pages, 8995 KiB  
Article
Comparative Transcriptomics and Metabolomics Uncover the Molecular Basis of Leaf Rust Resistance in Contrasting Leymus chinensis Germplasms
by Wenxin Gao, Peng Gao, Fenghui Guo and Xiangyang Hou
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(15), 7042; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26157042 - 22 Jul 2025
Viewed by 172
Abstract
Leymus chinensis (Trin.) Tzvel., a vital native forage grass in northern China for ecological restoration and livestock production, faces severe yield losses and grassland degradation due to rust (Puccinia spp.) infection. Current control strategies, reliant on chemical interventions, are limited by evolving [...] Read more.
Leymus chinensis (Trin.) Tzvel., a vital native forage grass in northern China for ecological restoration and livestock production, faces severe yield losses and grassland degradation due to rust (Puccinia spp.) infection. Current control strategies, reliant on chemical interventions, are limited by evolving resistance risks and environmental concerns, while rust-resistant breeding remains hindered by insufficient molecular insights. To address this, we systematically evaluated rust resistance in 24 L. chinensis germplasms from diverse geographic origins, identifying six highly resistant (HR) and five extremely susceptible (ES) genotypes. Integrating transcriptomics and metabolomics, we dissected molecular responses to Puccinia infection, focusing on contrasting HR (Lc71) and ES (Lc5) germplasms at 48 h post-inoculation. Transcriptomic analysis revealed 1012 differentially expressed genes (DEGs: 247 upregulated, 765 downregulated), with enrichment in cell wall biosynthesis and photosynthesis pathways but suppression of flavonoid synthesis. Metabolomic profiling identified 287 differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs: 133 upregulated, 188 downregulated), showing significant downregulation of pterocarpans and flavonoids in HR germplasms, alongside upregulated cutin synthesis-related metabolites. Multi-omics integration uncovered 79 co-enriched pathways, pinpointing critical regulatory networks: (1) In the nucleotide metabolism pathway, genes Lc5Ns011910, Lc1Xm057211, and Lc4Xm043884 exhibited negative cor-relations with metabolites Deoxycytidine and Cytosine. (2) In flavonoid biosynthesis, Lc2Xm054924, Lc4Xm044161, novel.8850, Lc2Ns006303, and Lc7Ns021884 were linked to naringenin and naringenin-7-O-glucoside accumulation. These candidate genes likely orchestrate rust resistance mechanisms in L. chinensis. Our findings advance the molecular understanding of rust resistance and provide actionable targets for breeding resilient germplasms. Full article
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