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Plants
Special Issues
The Mechanisms of Plant Resistance and Pathogenesis
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The Mechanisms of Plant Resistance and Pathogenesis

A special issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant Protection and Biotic Interactions".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 August 2025 | Viewed by 2778

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Yuanhu Xuan

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
State Key Laboratory of Elemento-Organic Chemistry, Department of Chemical Biology, National Pesticide Engineering Research Center (Tianjin), Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
Interests: plant disease; mechanism; plant resistance; pathogenesis; plant–pathogen interactions; plant defense
Dr. Jiangsheng Chen

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Biology and Food Engineering, Chongqing Three Gorges University, Chongqing 404100, China
Interests: plant disease; mechanism; plant resistance; pathogenesis; plant–pathogen interactions; plant defense
Dr. Luchao Bai

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
State Key Laboratory of Plateau Ecology and Agriculture, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, China
Interests: plant disease; mechanism; plant resistance; pathogenesis

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Plant diseases continue to seriously threaten the safety of food production worldwide. Plant pathogens such as fungi, bacteria, oomycetes, viruses, and nematodes attack plants to support growth and reproduction, and host plants develop active and dynamic complex defense mechanisms to protect themselves against different pathogenic stressors. The interaction between the pathogen and the plant is gradually understood. Understanding how pathogens change adaptive mechanisms to infection in plant hosts and how plants develop diverse resistance mechanisms to beat pathogens will provide crucial scientific support for better prevention and control of plant diseases. The bacterial CRISPR/Cas system has opened the door to a new plant breeding and crop development era. Therefore, this research topic aims at highlighting the latest research findings in understanding the mechanisms of plant resistance and pathogenesis.

We welcome research articles, reviews, and novel viewpoints/hypotheses which provide comprehensive information about the mechanisms of plant resistance and pathogenesis. Articles in the field of comprehensive prevention and control of diseases will also be of research interest. Topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Molecular interactions between plants and pathogens like fungi, bacteria, viruses, oomycetes, and nematodes;
  • Plant pathogenesis mechanisms;
  • Plant physiology of pathogen interactions;
  • Plant immune responses to pathogens at the molecular and cellular level;
  • Evasion and/or suppression of plant defense responses by pathogens;
  • Breeding strategies to create resistant plant cultivars.

Prof. Dr. Yuanhu Xuan
Dr. Jiangsheng Chen
Dr. Luchao Bai
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. Plants is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). 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

  • plant disease
  • mechanism
  • plant resistance
  • pathogenesis
  • plant–pathogen interactions
  • plant defense

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

26 pages, 4417 KiB  
Article
Transcriptome Analysis and Functional Characterization of the HvLRR_8-1 Gene Involved in Barley Resistance to Pyrenophora graminea
by Wenjuan Yang, Ming Guo, Yan Li, Qinglan Yang, Huaizhi Zhang, Chengdao Li, Juncheng Wang, Yaxiong Meng, Xiaole Ma, Baochun Li, Lirong Yao, Hong Zhang, Ke Yang, Xunwu Shang, Erjing Si and Huajun Wang
Plants 2025, 14(15), 2350; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14152350 - 30 Jul 2025
Viewed by 345
Abstract
Barley leaf stripe, caused by Pyrenophora graminea (Pg), significantly reduces yields across various regions globally. Understanding the resistance mechanisms of barley to Pg is crucial for advancing disease resistance breeding efforts. In this study, two barley genotypes—highly susceptible Alexis and immune [...] Read more.
Barley leaf stripe, caused by Pyrenophora graminea (Pg), significantly reduces yields across various regions globally. Understanding the resistance mechanisms of barley to Pg is crucial for advancing disease resistance breeding efforts. In this study, two barley genotypes—highly susceptible Alexis and immune Ganpi2—were inoculated with the highly pathogenic Pg isolate QWC for 7, 14, and 18 days. The number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in Alexis was 1350, 1898, and 2055 at 7, 14, and 18 days, respectively, while Ganpi2 exhibited 1195, 1682, and 2225 DEGs at the same time points. Gene expression pattern analysis revealed that Alexis responded more slowly to Pg infection compared to Ganpi2. A comparative analysis identified 457 DEGs associated with Ganpi2’s immunity to Pg. Functional enrichment of these DEGs highlighted the involvement of genes related to plant-pathogen interactions and kinase activity in Pg immunity. Additionally, 20 resistance genes and 24 transcription factor genes were predicted from the 457 DEGs. Twelve candidate genes were selected for qRT-PCR verification, and the results showed that the transcriptomic data was reliable. We conducted cloning of the candidate Pg resistance gene HvLRR_8-1 by the barley cultivar Ganpi2, and the sequence analysis confirmed that the HvLRR_8-1 gene contains seven leucine-rich repeat (LRR) domains and an S_TKc domain. Subcellular localization in tobacco indicates that the HvLRR_8-1 is localized on the cell membrane. Through the functional analysis using virus-induced gene silencing, it was demonstrated that HvLRR_8-1 plays a critical role in regulating barley resistance to Pg. This study represents the first comparative transcriptome analysis of barley varieties with differing responses to Pg infection, providing that HvLRR_8-1 represents a promising candidate gene for improving durable resistance against Pg in cultivated barley. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Mechanisms of Plant Resistance and Pathogenesis)
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15 pages, 2333 KiB  
Article
Insights into the Genetics Underlying the Resistance to Root-Knot Nematode Reproduction in the Common Bean Ouro Negro
by Ana M. Pesqueira, Ana M. González, Teresa Barragán-Lozano, María S. Arnedo, Rafael Lozano and Marta Santalla
Plants 2025, 14(7), 1073; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14071073 - 1 Apr 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 474
Abstract
Root-knot nematodes (RKNs, Meloidogyne spp.) have become the major yield-limiting biological factor in common bean production in many warmer-climate regions such as the south of Europe. Broadening the genetic base of resistance in elite common bean cultivars is the most effective and environmentally [...] Read more.
Root-knot nematodes (RKNs, Meloidogyne spp.) have become the major yield-limiting biological factor in common bean production in many warmer-climate regions such as the south of Europe. Broadening the genetic base of resistance in elite common bean cultivars is the most effective and environmentally friendly method for managing this disease. Toward this goal, F1, F2, and F3 populations from crosses between susceptible snap beans (Helda and Perona) and the resistant Ouro Negro cultivar were phenotyped for M. incognita and M. javanica-induced root-galling (GI) and egg mass production (EM) in controlled growth chamber infection assays. F1 progenies showed a susceptible response to both RKN isolates, with high GI and EM values, indicating a recessive inheritance of nematode resistance. The estimates for broad-sense heritability for GI and EM in the F2 Helda × Ouro Negro population infected with M. incognita were 0.62 and 0.54, respectively. RKN resistance in Ouro Negro is largely controlled by partial to overdominant genetic effects and that susceptibility factor leads recessive resistance. The minimum number of genes involved in nematode resistance was estimated to be about two or three. In agreement, genetic analysis of F2 segregating populations supported duplicate recessive epistasis as the inheritance pattern involved in the resistance provided by the Ouro Negro cultivar. Ouro Negro is an important resource for broadening RKN resistance in elite common bean cultivars. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Mechanisms of Plant Resistance and Pathogenesis)
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22 pages, 10066 KiB  
Article
WRKY36–PIL15 Transcription Factor Complex Negatively Regulates Sheath Blight Resistance and Seed Development in Rice
by Siting Wang, Qian Sun, Shuo Yang, Huan Chen, Depeng Yuan, Changxi Gan, Haixia Chen, Yongxi Zhi, Hongyao Zhu, Yue Gao, Xiaofeng Zhu and Yuanhu Xuan
Plants 2025, 14(4), 518; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14040518 - 8 Feb 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 738
Abstract
Sheath blight (ShB) causes severe yield loss in rice. Previously, we demonstrated that the sugar will eventually be exported and the transporter 11 (SWEET11) mutation significantly improved rice resistance to ShB, but it caused severe defects in seed development. The present [...] Read more.
Sheath blight (ShB) causes severe yield loss in rice. Previously, we demonstrated that the sugar will eventually be exported and the transporter 11 (SWEET11) mutation significantly improved rice resistance to ShB, but it caused severe defects in seed development. The present study found that WRKY36 and PIL15 directly activate SWEET11 to negatively regulate ShB. Interestingly, WRKY36 interacted with PIL15, WRKY36 and PIL15 directly activates miR530 to negatively regulate seed development. WRKY36 interacted with a key BR signaling transcription factor WRKY53. AOS2 is an effector protein from Rhizoctonia solani (R. solani) that interacts with WRKY53. Interestingly, AOS2 also interacts with WRKY36 and PIL15 to activate SWEET11 for sugar nutrition for R. solani. These data collectively suggest that WRKY36–PIL15 negatively regulates ShB resistance and seed development via the activation of SWEET11 and miR530, respectively. In addition, WRKY36 and PIL15 are the partners of the effector protein AOS2 by which R. solani hijacks sugar nutrition from rice. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Mechanisms of Plant Resistance and Pathogenesis)
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25 pages, 6731 KiB  
Article
Abscisic Acid Can Play a Dual Role in the Triticum aestivum–Stagonospora nodorum Pathosystem
by Svetlana Veselova, Tatyana Nuzhnaya, Guzel Burkhanova, Sergey Rumyantsev and Igor Maksimov
Plants 2025, 14(3), 355; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14030355 - 24 Jan 2025
Viewed by 745
Abstract
Abscisic acid (ABA) is not only important for plant responses to abiotic stresses, but also plays a key and multifaceted role in plant immunity. In this work, we analyzed the role of ABA in the development of resistance/susceptibility in the wheat (Triticum [...] Read more.
Abscisic acid (ABA) is not only important for plant responses to abiotic stresses, but also plays a key and multifaceted role in plant immunity. In this work, we analyzed the role of ABA in the development of resistance/susceptibility in the wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)–Stagonospora nodorum Berk. pathosystem, which includes the recognition of the necrotic effectors (NEs) of a pathogen by the corresponding wheat susceptibility genes. We studied the interaction of the S. nodorum SnB isolate, which produces two NEs, SnToxA and SnTox3, with three wheat genotypes having different combinations of the corresponding host susceptibility genes (Tsn1 and Snn3-B1). The results of this work on the gene expression and redox status of resistant and sensitive wheat genotypes treated with ABA show that ABA signaling is directed at inducing the resistance of wheat plants to S. nodorum SnB isolate through the activation of the early post-invasive defense genes TaERD15 and TaABI5. The induction of the expression of these genes leads to reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation during the early stage of infection, with the subsequent limitation of the pathogen’s growth. In the presence of a compatible interaction of SnTox3–Snn3-B1, ABA signaling is suppressed. On the contrary, in the presence of a compatible interaction of SnToxA–Tsn1, ABA signaling is activated, but the activity of the early post-invasive defense genes TaERD15 and TaABI5 is inhibited, and the expression of the NAC (NAM, ATAF1/2, and CUC2) transcription factor (TF) family genes TaNAC29 and TaNAC21/22 is induced. The TF genes TaNAC29 and TaNAC21/22 in the presence of SnToxA induce the development of the susceptibility of wheat plants to S. nodorum SnB, associated with a decrease in the oxidative burst during the early stage of infection. Thus, our study provides new data on the role of the NEs SnTox3 and SnToxA in manipulating ABA signaling in the development of the susceptibility of wheat to S. nodorum. Deepening our knowledge in this area will be instrumental for developing new strategies for breeding programs and will contribute to the development of environmentally friendly sustainable agriculture. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Mechanisms of Plant Resistance and Pathogenesis)
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