Fungal Pathogenicity Factors: 2nd Edition

Dear Colleagues,

Phytopathogenic fungi are known as the most important agents of plant diseases worldwide. Aggressive fungi often infect their hosts via multiple developmental processes requiring the activities of fungal pathogenicity factors which either remain inside the fungus or are secreted into the host cell. In general, fungal pathogenic factors can be classified as penetration effectors, mycotoxins, enzymes degrading the host cell wall, or signal transduction components and other factors. Over the past two decades, numerous studies have focused on discovering novel pathogenicity factors, explaining their functions and interaction with plant hosts, and ultimately designing some targeted fungicide based on these factors.

On the plant side, the zig–zag model of the plant–pathogen interaction, proposed in 2006, reveals plant innate immunity at cellular and molecular levels within cells. The classic CODIT (compartmentalization of decay in trees) model, originally proposed in 1977, explaining the mechanism of compartmentalization taking place following wounding and infection by decaying fungal pathogens is still far from being fully understood. With the state-of-the-art technology, e.g., single-cell sequencing and the latest molecular cell biology evidence to illustrate the plant innate responses at a tissue level, is promising.

This Special Issue will summarize the current knowledge of phytopathogenic fungi and plant innate immunity, and aim to answer some of the many open questions on fungal pathogenicity factors and their functions in terms of the identification of new fungi species, fungi pathogenicity factors and functions, population diversity and evolution, and interactions with plants. In addition, this Special Issue will cover the epidemiology and prevention of fungal diseases, and new techniques and products used in fungal disease control. All types of articles will be considered for publication, including short reports, primary research articles and reviews.

We are looking forward to your contributions.

Dr. Xin Guan
Dr. Xiaoli Chang
Guest Editors

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