biostudies-literatureFan HKey Technologies Research and Development ProgramNational Natural Science Foundation of China17https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC10897097biostudies-literatureUnknown4(1)Persimmon anthracnose, a severe disease caused by the hemibiotrophic fungus Colletotrichum horii, poses a substantial threat to China's persimmon industry. Previous research showed that 'Kangbing Jianshi' cultivar exhibits strong resistance to anthracnose. Notably, 'Kangbing Jianshi' branches exhibit greater lignification compared with the susceptible 'Fuping Jianshi' cultivar. In this study, higher lignin content was observed in 'Kangbing Jianshi' compared with 'Fuping Jianshi', and this difference was associated with disease resistance. Transcriptome and metabolome analyses revealed that the majority of differentially expressed genes and differentially accumulated metabolites were primarily enriched in the phenylpropanoid biosynthesis and lignin synthesis pathways. Furthermore, significaStress biologyDkWRKY transcription factors enhance persimmon resistance to Colletotrichum horii by promoting lignin accumulation through DkCAD1 promotor interaction.PMC108970972019YFD1000600322726722022YFD220040032302478Li YFan HDing YYang YGuan CLiu SShen XfalseDkWRKY transcription factors enhance persimmon resistance to Colletotrichum horii by promoting lignin accumulation through DkCAD1 promotor interaction.Persimmon anthracnose, a severe disease caused by the hemibiotrophic fungus Colletotrichum horii, poses a substantial threat to China's persimmon industry. Previous research showed that 'Kangbing Jianshi' cultivar exhibits strong resistance to anthracnose. Notably, 'Kangbing Jianshi' branches exhibit greater lignification compared with the susceptible 'Fuping Jianshi' cultivar. In this study, higher lignin content was observed in 'Kangbing Jianshi' compared with 'Fuping Jianshi', and this difference was associated with disease resistance. Transcriptome and metabolome analyses revealed that the majority of differentially expressed genes and differentially accumulated metabolites were primarily enriched in the phenylpropanoid biosynthesis and lignin synthesis pathways. Furthermore, significa2024-01-01T00:00:00Z2024 Feb2026-07-14T18:10:25.041Z2026-06-22T03:08:33.762ZS-EPMC108970973840765910.1007/s44154-024-00154-0