The SsSmk1-SsSom1-SsMsb2 Pathway Regulates Infection Cushion Formation and Pathogenicity in Sclerotinia sclerotiorum.

ABSTRACT: Sclerotinia sclerotiorum causes Sclerotinia stem rot on economically important plants, posing serious threats to food security worldwide. Host-induced gene silencing (HIGS) was reported as a promising strategy for preventing infections caused by S. sclerotiorum; however, highly effective HIGS gene targets are limited. During infection, transmembrane proteins sense cell surface signals to induce infection cushion differentiation. The regulatory pathways governing intracellular signal transduction and the expression patterns of these transmembrane proteins remain unclear. Here, we demonstrated that the transcription factor SsSom1 interacted with the mitogen-activated protein kinase SsSmk1. Deletion of SsSom1 abolished sclerotia formation, regulated infection cushions development and reduced

SUBMITTER: Jiao W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12277539 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature