{"title":"OsELP Mediated Apoplastic Sequestration in Roots Acts as an Arsenic Filter, Limiting Grain Accumulation in Rice.","authors":"Khushboo Chawda, Waseem Siddique, Dipali Srivastava, Madhu Tiwari, Sonik Anto, Soumit Kumar Behera, Debasis Chakrabarty","doi":"10.1111/pce.70596","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/pce.70596","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Arsenic (As) contamination in rice (Oryza sativa L.) is a persistent threat to global food safety. Expansin-like proteins have been implicated in cell wall dynamics and metal binding; however, their in planta role in As detoxification remains unexplored. This study reveals a pivotal role for the rice expansin-like protein OsELP in As compartmentalisation and tolerance. Using transgenic approaches in Arabidopsis thaliana and rice, we showed that OsELP overexpression significantly enhanced tolerance to both arsenite and arsenate stress, protecting biomass and photosynthetic efficiency. Mechanistically, OsELP facilitated the apoplastic sequestration of As in roots, as visualised by Scanning Electron Microscopy-Energy Dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX) imaging. This sequestration acted as a root filter, increasing root As retention and reducing shoot translocation, which culminated in a significant reduction of As in grains in the overexpression lines. This spatial restriction of As mitigated oxidative and photosynthetic damage by enhancing antioxidant enzyme activities and limiting reactive oxygen species accumulation. In contrast, the Oselp knockout line exhibited increased As accumulation in aerial tissues and heightened sensitivity. This study reveals a previously uncharacterised functional link between cell wall-associated expansin-like proteins and As mobility regulation, highlighting OsELP as a promising genetic target for developing low-As rice cultivars.</p>","PeriodicalId":222,"journal":{"name":"Plant, Cell & Environment","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.3,"publicationDate":"2026-05-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147831586","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Zhiyao Zhu, Huanzhen Wu, Yameng Lin, Min Li, Zhi Yang, Xiuming Cui, Ye Yang, Yuan Liu
{"title":"Genomic Insights Into Biocontrol and Plant Growth-Promoting Mechanisms of Paenibacillus maysiensis LHJ6 Against Root Rot in Panax notoginseng.","authors":"Zhiyao Zhu, Huanzhen Wu, Yameng Lin, Min Li, Zhi Yang, Xiuming Cui, Ye Yang, Yuan Liu","doi":"10.1111/pce.70570","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/pce.70570","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Panax notoginseng (P. notoginseng), a medicinal herb rich in bioactive saponins derived from its roots, exhibits diverse pharmacological activities relevant to cardiovascular diseases. Root rot, a devastating soil-borne disease, threatens the sustainability of P. notoginseng production. Biological control is a green and effective approach for disease control. Herein, we successfully isolated a biocontrol strain, Paenibacillus maysiensis (P. maysiensis) LHJ6, from the rhizosphere of healthy P. notoginseng. Pot experiments demonstrated that LHJ6 reduced root rot incidence by 80.0% and the disease index by 75.0%, with significant efficacy observed under field conditions. Whole-genome sequencing revealed multifaceted mechanisms underlying biological control and plant growth promotion. Genomic analysis revealed a single circular chromosome spanning 6.13 Mb, with 5,886 protein-coding genes. LHJ6 exerted its potent biocontrol activity against plant pathogens through multiple mechanisms, including rhizosphere colonisation, production of diverse antifungal metabolites, degradation of pathogenic fungal cell walls, siderophore production, nitrogen fixation, and potential induction of systemic resistance in host. These findings offer fundamental insights into the biocontrol mechanisms of P. maysiensis strain LHJ6, providing a foundation for developing sustainable agricultural applications in P. notoginseng cultivation.</p>","PeriodicalId":222,"journal":{"name":"Plant, Cell & Environment","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.3,"publicationDate":"2026-05-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147831465","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Molecular Characteristics of the MYC Gene Family in Poplar and the Regulatory Mechanism of PpnMYC2-1 in Promoting Lignin Biosynthesis.","authors":"Shenxiu Jiang, Xiaofei Zhao, Yuhang Zhang, Aoyu Ling, Jianghai Shu, Yufei Xia, Xiangyang Kang","doi":"10.1111/pce.70592","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/pce.70592","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":222,"journal":{"name":"Plant, Cell & Environment","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.3,"publicationDate":"2026-05-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147831616","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Wenze Zhang, Jiao Zhang, Songling Bo, Longfei Zhan, Qifan Xue, Li Fan, Yanxi Pei, Zhuping Jin
{"title":"H<sub>2</sub>S-Induced PAD3 Persulfidation Balances H<sub>2</sub>S-HCN Homoeostasis for Osmotic Stress Tolerance in Arabidopsis.","authors":"Wenze Zhang, Jiao Zhang, Songling Bo, Longfei Zhan, Qifan Xue, Li Fan, Yanxi Pei, Zhuping Jin","doi":"10.1111/pce.70593","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/pce.70593","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Hydrogen sulphide (H<sub>2</sub>S), a novel gasotransmitter, regulates physiological processes in both plants and animals. Recently, hydrogen cyanide (HCN) has been proposed as a potential signalling molecule with functions similar to H<sub>2</sub>S, though their interplay remains unclear. Here, we elucidated their relationship in Arabidopsis thaliana. Fluorometric analysis confirmed phytoalexin deficient3 (PAD3) as an HCN synthase, with significantly elevated HCN levels in OE-PAD3 and reduced levels in the pad3 mutant. Subsequent experiments revealed that under salt stress, H<sub>2</sub>S enhanced ROS scavenging while HCN promoted accumulation, with the pad3 + H<sub>2</sub>S treatment showing significantly improved salt tolerance. Under drought conditions, H<sub>2</sub>S induced stomatal closure to reduce water loss, whereas HCN promoted stomatal opening, resulting in the pad3 + H<sub>2</sub>S treatment demonstrating optimal drought resistance. Oxygen consumption rate (OCR) measurements showed that HCN suppressed, while H<sub>2</sub>S enhanced cellular oxygen consumption. Notably, H<sub>2</sub>S and HCN cooperate to maintain respiratory homoeostasis under osmotic stress and enhance plant tolerance. Mechanistically, the biotin switch assay confirmed H<sub>2</sub>S-mediated persulfidation of PAD3 at Cys440, thereby enhancing its enzymatic activity. Conversely, HCN suppresses the expression of H<sub>2</sub>S synthase-encoding genes, thereby inhibiting H<sub>2</sub>S synthesis. This study demonstrates that H<sub>2</sub>S maintains H<sub>2</sub>S-HCN homoeostasis through PAD3 persulfidation, thereby optimizing cellular OCR and consequently enhancing plant tolerance to osmotic stress.</p>","PeriodicalId":222,"journal":{"name":"Plant, Cell & Environment","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.3,"publicationDate":"2026-05-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147831450","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"A Meta-Analysis Reveals That the Protective Role of Silicon in Grasses Against Fungal Pathogens Depends on Infection Mechanism.","authors":"Sarah J Thorne, Julia Cooke, Susan E Hartley","doi":"10.1111/pce.70586","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/pce.70586","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Pathogen infection drives plant community structure and constrains global agricultural productivity. Silicon (Si) improves resistance to abiotic and herbivory stress, particularly in grasses, but relatively little attention has addressed Si-mediated resistance to pathogens, nor has it tested how this varies according to the type of plant and pathogen and is altered by environmental factors. We performed a meta-analysis to quantitatively assess the benefits of Si fertilisation for improving disease resistance against fungal pathogens in grasses. Overall, Si fertilisation decreased disease severity by 43% and increased biomass of infected plants by 35%. The underlying mechanisms were investigated by analysing the impacts of Si against diverse fungal infection strategies. The disease suppressive effect of Si was greater for pathogens producing appressoria, a structure involved in cell wall penetration and effector release, but lower against pathogens entering through stomata. Furthermore, Si was more effective against pathogens that produce haustoria or infection hyphae, which are involved in nutrient acquisition. These findings advance knowledge of plant-pathogen interactions by identifying key pathogen traits determining Si effectiveness against pathogen attack in grasses. Our results support using Si fertiliser for cereal crops to reduce fungal damage and suggest Si should be considered in studies of grass evolutionary history and community structure.</p>","PeriodicalId":222,"journal":{"name":"Plant, Cell & Environment","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.3,"publicationDate":"2026-05-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147831420","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"PuCBL9-PuCIPK11 Modulates Stomatal Microfilament Reorganisation in a Phosphorylation-Dependent Manner to Enhance Drought Tolerance in Poplar.","authors":"Jingjing Li, Lu Yang, Qianqian Liu, Sophia Hydarry Matola, Xinyu Cui, Haoqin Zhao, Wanxin Li, Dativa Gosbert Tibesigwa, Tabeer Gulfam, Jingli Yang","doi":"10.1111/pce.70590","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/pce.70590","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Drought stress severely constrains the growth and survival of forest trees. Plant stomata serve as portals for water transpiration and gas exchange, where adjustments in stomatal aperture critically influence drought resistance in trees. Although guard cell actin cytoskeleton dynamics are essential for stomatal movement, their regulation in trees remains poorly understood. This study characterises PuCIPK11 in Populus ussuriensis Kom., demonstrating its role in enhancing drought resistance via stomatal closure. PuCIPK11 predominantly expressed in guard cells and induced by drought and ABA, and its overexpression promotes microfilaments (MFs) depolymerisation and longitudinal rearrangement, accelerating stomatal closure. Under drought stress, PuCIPK11 is recruited to the plasma membrane by the Ca²⁺ sensor PuCBL9, where it undergoes conformational activation through the formation of a PuCBL9-PuCIPK11 module. Furthermore, PuCIPK11 phosphorylates PuCBL9 at Ser201, a process enhanced by ABA that strengthens their interaction. Functional validation using pucbl9 knockout mutants in a PuCIPK11-overexpression background confirmed that PuCIPK11 acts in concert with PuCBL9 to modulate MFs dynamics and drought tolerance. This study provides mechanistic insights into the phosphorylation-dependent regulation of stomatal cytoskeletal dynamics and identifies the PuCBL9-PuCIPK11 module as a key regulator of drought resistance in poplar, offering potential targets for genetic improvement of poplar.</p>","PeriodicalId":222,"journal":{"name":"Plant, Cell & Environment","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.3,"publicationDate":"2026-05-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147831548","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Peng Yan, Yi Liu, Sijia Liu, Han Zhao, Zhanbo Liu, Shujiang Li
{"title":"The ApCtf1β2-ApCUT3 Module Mediates Host Cuticle Penetration and Modulates Immune Responses Thereby Influencing Blight Resistance in Bambusa pervariabilis × Dendrocalamopsis grandis.","authors":"Peng Yan, Yi Liu, Sijia Liu, Han Zhao, Zhanbo Liu, Shujiang Li","doi":"10.1111/pce.70589","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/pce.70589","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Arthrinium phaeospermum is a globally distributed pathogen with a broad host range and is one of the principal causal agents of blight on Bambusa pervariabilis × Dendrocalamopsis grandis (hybrid bamboo). Cutinase Transcription Factor 1 (Ctf1) facilitates degradation of the plant cuticle, as well as early infection and colonisation; however, the transcriptional regulation and pathogenic mechanisms of the Ctf1β subfamily remain unclear. We found that the ApCtf1β family contains conserved core domains and variable terminal regions. Through synteny analysis combined with interaction transcriptomics, we identified ApCtf1β2 as a key pathogenicity gene that is significantly upregulated during infection. Functional analyses revealed that ApCtf1β2 is involved in fatty acid metabolism, stress responses, and sporulation, and that ΔApCtf1β2 significantly reduces virulence. Integrated CUT&Tag and RNA-seq analyses identified ApCUT3 as a primary target; Yeast One-Hybrid (Y1H), Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay (EMSA), and Dual luciferase assay (DLR) confirmed that ApCtf1β2 directly activates ApCUT3 expression by binding to the GCC(n5)CGG motif in the ApCUT3 promoter. ApCUT3, a secreted cutinase, possesses a functional signal peptide, localises to extranuclear compartments, and plays a pivotal role in degrading the host cuticle. Single-gene knockouts (ΔApCtf1β2 or ΔApCUT3) each attenuate pathogenicity, whereas the double knockout (ΔApCtf1β2/ApCUT3) exhibits a pronounced hypovirulent phenotype with synergistic interaction. Hosts infected with the double mutant maintain relatively intact cuticles, exhibit substantially weakened JA and SA defence signalling, and display markedly reduced defence enzyme activities. In summary, the ApCtf1β2-ApCUT3 module promotes fungal infection by transcriptionally activating ApCUT3, a key cutin-degrading enzyme, thereby compromising the host physical barrier and indirectly modulating host defence responses through Damage-Associated Molecular Patterns (DAMPs) release. These findings provide a theoretical basis for targeted control of fungal diseases.</p>","PeriodicalId":222,"journal":{"name":"Plant, Cell & Environment","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.3,"publicationDate":"2026-05-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147831570","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Wenying Liao, Jie Li, Runze Guo, Juan Xu, James Whelan, Huixia Shou
{"title":"Fatty Acid Desaturases GmROD1s Are Involved in Nodulation by Regulating the Flux of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids.","authors":"Wenying Liao, Jie Li, Runze Guo, Juan Xu, James Whelan, Huixia Shou","doi":"10.1111/pce.70575","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/pce.70575","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Legume-rhizobia symbiosis requires induction of fatty acid (FA) biosynthesis, especially the polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), as essential lipid and membrane components for nodulation. However, the regulation of PUFA homoeostasis remains poorly understood. Direct molecular and genetic evidence linking specific FA desaturation enzymes to this process is limited. Here, we investigated two soybean FA desaturation genes, GmROD1a/b, and provided their previously unrecognised roles in nodulation. Both were strongly induced during early rhizobial infection and remained highly expressed throughout nodule development. Overexpression significantly enhanced nodulation and plant growth, whereas disruption reduced nodule numbers. Transcriptomic analyses further revealed that GmROD1s promote PUFA accumulation and regulate genes associated with nodulation and nodule function, energy metabolism, membrane biogenesis, etc. We also identified two members of the WRINKLED family of transcription factors that are co-expressed with GmROD1 in rhizobia-infected roots and nodules. Further, promoter binding and transcription activation assays confirmed that GmWRI1 and the newly identified nodulation-associated factor, GmWRI3, directly promote GmROD1a/b expression, and overexpression of either transcription factor in soybean hairy roots significantly promoted nodulation. Together, our study uncovers a previously unappreciated role of ROD1 in nodulation, extending the functional role beyond FA desaturation. More importantly, we provide new molecular evidence linking nodulation to PUFA biosynthesis mediated by a previously unappreciated GmWRI1/3-GmROD1a/b regulatory module. Notably, the biological function of GmWRI3 in soybean has not been experimentally characterised. These findings establish a mechanistic connection between fatty acid metabolism and nodulation, offering potential targets for improving legume crop yields.</p>","PeriodicalId":222,"journal":{"name":"Plant, Cell & Environment","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.3,"publicationDate":"2026-05-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147831372","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Yuan-Chu Liu, Wen Ma, Jun-Feng Niu, Bao-Zhen Zhou, Zhi-Yong Yue, Bin Li, Dong-Hao Wang, Shi-Qiang Wang, Wen Zhou, Su-Ying Hu, Lin Li, Shuai Liu, Li-Jun Chen, Hai-Cheng Lu, Jia-Xue Sun, Xin-Rui Wang, Su-Min Ye, Ya-Ping Yan, Zhe-Zhi Wang
{"title":"Arabidopsis Circadian Clock Protein CCA1 Negatively Regulates the Calcium-Binding Protein CCaP1 to Modulate Dark-Responsive Stomatal Movement.","authors":"Yuan-Chu Liu, Wen Ma, Jun-Feng Niu, Bao-Zhen Zhou, Zhi-Yong Yue, Bin Li, Dong-Hao Wang, Shi-Qiang Wang, Wen Zhou, Su-Ying Hu, Lin Li, Shuai Liu, Li-Jun Chen, Hai-Cheng Lu, Jia-Xue Sun, Xin-Rui Wang, Su-Min Ye, Ya-Ping Yan, Zhe-Zhi Wang","doi":"10.1111/pce.70548","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/pce.70548","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Stomatal conductance, which is crucial for plant carbon assimilation and water regulation, is modulated by Ca<sup>2+</sup>-binding proteins (CBPs). These proteins mediate Ca<sup>2+</sup> signaling transduction, transport and homeostasis, influencing various physiological processes including stomatal movement, pollen tube growth and hypocotyl elongation. Despite their significance, the involvement of CBPs in dark-induced stomatal closure remains elusive. Here, we investigated the role of Arabidopsis cytosolic Ca<sup>2+</sup>-binding protein 1 (CCaP1) in dark-induced stomatal closure. β-glucuronidase (GUS) staining and in situ hybridization confirmed its predominant expression in guard cells. Yeast one-hybrid and transient expression assays demonstrated that CIRCADIAN CLOCK ASSOCIATED 1 (CCA1) directly binds to the CCaP1 promoter to negatively regulate its expression. Genetic studies demonstrated that CCaP1 regulated dark-induced stomatal closure. Furthermore, the use of the Ca<sup>2+</sup> probe R-GECO1 has shown that CCaP1 affected cytosolic free Ca<sup>2+</sup> ([Ca<sup>2+</sup>]<sub>cyt</sub>) levels and potassium ion (K<sup>+</sup>) uptake in guard cells under dark conditions. Our findings indicate that CCA1-regulated CCaP1 is essential for maintaining Ca<sup>2+</sup> dynamics and normal K<sup>+</sup> flux in dark-induced stomatal closure.</p>","PeriodicalId":222,"journal":{"name":"Plant, Cell & Environment","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.3,"publicationDate":"2026-05-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147831369","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Protease-Mediated Dual Action Against Rice Blast: Suppression of Magnaporthe oryzae Ergosterol Biosynthesis Pathway and Enhancement of Rice Disease Resistance by Bacillus amyloliquefaciens SN16-1.","authors":"Xingjie He, Chao Shen, Qiwei Cheng, Henan Zhang, Xiaoxu Liu, Wei Wang","doi":"10.1111/pce.70582","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/pce.70582","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Rice blast, caused by the fungal pathogen Magnaporthe oryzae, poses a severe threat to global rice production. While biological control represents a promising sustainable strategy, the molecular mechanisms by which biocontrol agents suppress M. oryzae remain poorly understood. Our findings elucidate a novel mechanism of bacterial biocontrol, wherein a secreted bacterial protease modulates fungal signalling pathways to disrupt its environmental fitness and pathogenic structures, while enhancing host resistance to blast disease. We demonstrate that the Bacillus amyloliquefaciens SN16-1 exhibits antagonistic activity against M. oryzae Guy11. Integrated dual RNA sequencing and protein-protein interaction analysis revealed that the ergosterol biosynthesis pathway in M. oryzae is crucial for its pathogenicity and is markedly suppressed during co-culture with SN16-1. We identified MoERG1, a key enzyme in this pathway, as essential for fungal development and virulence. Further analysis showed that the serine protease AprE, secreted by SN16-1, is a critical mediator. AprE triggers the Hog1-MAPK signalling cascade in M. oryzae, leading to transcriptional repression of ergosterol biosynthesis genes, concomitant activation of plant disease resistance, and induction of ROS accumulation, hyperosmotic stress and apoptosis in fungal hyphae. This study provides new insights into host-microbe-pathogen interactions and offers an effective strategy for developing targeted biocontrol solutions against devastating plant diseases.</p>","PeriodicalId":222,"journal":{"name":"Plant, Cell & Environment","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.3,"publicationDate":"2026-05-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147831598","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}