EFFECTORS, ELICITOR PROTEINS AND CELL WALL DEGRADING ENZYMES SECRETED FROM VERTICILLIUM DAHLIAE (KLEB) AND THEIR ROLE ON VIRULENCE – AN OVER VIEW

Abstract

Verticillium dahliae, a soil borne pathogen, belongs to the fungal class Deuteromycetes, a group of fungi, which do not have a known sexual stage. It is a hemi-biotrophic pathogenic fungus capable of infecting wide range of hosts. Secretion of virulence determinants referred as effectors proteins that enable the pathogen to suppress plant defense responses and modulate host metabolism are the key governing factor determining the success of infection. Like other plant pathogens, Verticillium dahliae secretes a range of effectors, elicitor proteins and cell wall degrading enzymes to promote successful infection and colonization of its hosts. This review focuses on specific effectors proteins secreted by filamentous fungi, Verticillium dahliae, the virulence role of effectors in the fungal-host interaction and the molecular mechanism by which the effectors modulate processes in the plant hosts. In addition, proteins secreted during Verticillium dahliae infection process and their contributions to virulence are discussed