biostudies-literaturePei TChina Agriculture Research System of MOF and MARASpecial Funds for Major Scientific and Technological Innovation from Shaanxi ProvinceNational Natural Science Foundation of ChinaChinese Universities Scientific Funde13457https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC11018250biostudies-literatureUnknown25(4)Glomerella leaf spot (GLS), a fungal disease caused by Colletotrichum fructicola, severely affects apple (Malus domestica) quality and yield. In this study, we found that the transcription factor MdWRKY71 was significantly induced by C. fructicola infection in the GLS-susceptible apple cultivar Royal Gala. The overexpression of MdWRKY71 in apple leaves resulted in increased susceptibility to C. fructicola, whereas RNA interference of MdWRKY71 in leaves showed the opposite phenotypes. These findings suggest that MdWRKY71 functions as a susceptibility factor for the apple-C. fructicola interaction. Furthermore, MdWRKY71 directly bound to the promoter of the salicylic acid (SA) degradation gene Downy Mildew Resistant 6 (DMR6)-Like Oxygenase 1 (DLO1) and promoted its expression, resulting in aMolecular plant pathologyMdWRKY71 promotes the susceptibility of apple to Glomerella leaf spot by controlling salicylic acid degradation.PMC1101825032172529CARS-272020zdzx03-01-012452023067Niu DZhan MDeng JMa YLi PLiu CPei TMa FfalseMdWRKY71 promotes the susceptibility of apple to Glomerella leaf spot by controlling salicylic acid degradation.Glomerella leaf spot (GLS), a fungal disease caused by Colletotrichum fructicola, severely affects apple (Malus domestica) quality and yield. In this study, we found that the transcription factor MdWRKY71 was significantly induced by C. fructicola infection in the GLS-susceptible apple cultivar Royal Gala. The overexpression of MdWRKY71 in apple leaves resulted in increased susceptibility to C. fructicola, whereas RNA interference of MdWRKY71 in leaves showed the opposite phenotypes. These findings suggest that MdWRKY71 functions as a susceptibility factor for the apple-C. fructicola interaction. Furthermore, MdWRKY71 directly bound to the promoter of the salicylic acid (SA) degradation gene Downy Mildew Resistant 6 (DMR6)-Like Oxygenase 1 (DLO1) and promoted its expression, resulting in a2024-01-01T00:00:00Z2024 Apr2025-04-19T20:28:36.812Z2024-11-12T11:16:47.09ZS-EPMC110182503861987310.1111/mpp.13457