A recent study has unveiled the sophisticated methods pathogens use to weaken plant defenses. It shows how a pathogen's effector protein targets the chloroplast protein StFC-II, increasing its levels in chloroplasts and reducing the plant's ability to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS). This manipulation significantly compromises the plant's immune response, offering new insights into potential strategies for enhancing plant resistance to infections.

The work is published in the journal Horticulture Research.

The ongoing battle between plants and pathogens is shaped by millions of years of co-evolution. While plants have developed complex immune systems to fend off invaders, pathogens continuously evolve strategies to bypass these defenses. One of these strategies involves targeting chloroplast proteins, which are crucial for both photosynthesis and immunity. Understanding how pathogens exploit these proteins is essential for developing new approaches to strengthen plant resistance.

The research, led by scientists from Huazhong Agricultural University, explores how the Phytophthora infestans effector Pi22922 targets the chloroplast protein StFC-II in potatoes. The study reveals that Pi22922 interacts with StFC-II in the cytoplasm, preventing its degradation and promoting its accumulation in chloroplasts. This process disrupts the chloroplast's role in immune responses, making the plant more susceptible to infection.

Read on: https://phys.org/news/2024-08-chloroplast-strategy-pathogen-warfare-uncovered.html