Decoding sugarcane smut: the role of effector SsEF83 in fungal virulence and plant interaction.

ABSTRACT: Sugarcane smut, caused by the fungus Sporisorium scitamineum, severely affects global sugarcane production. Effector proteins are crucial for fungal invasion and virulence in plants. Nevertheless, few studies have identified effector proteins in S. scitamineum and demonstrated their functions in smut progression. This study aimed to characterize SsEF83 (SPSC_06083), a cysteine-rich core effector of S. scitamineum. Our qRT-PCR results revealed that the expression of SsEF83 was significantly upregulated at 24, 72, and 168 h post-infection in sugarcane. Further confirmation of the secretion function of the SsEF83 signal peptide was provided by the yeast secretion system. SsEF83 was found to induce cell death in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves. Subcellular local

SUBMITTER: Huang X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12399601 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature