DNA methylation-dependent epigenetic regulation of virulence in plants.

Unlabelled: As a conserved epigenetic mark, DNA cytosine methylation, at the 5' position (5-mC), plays important roles in multiple biological processes, including plant immunity. However, the involvement of DNA methylation in the determinants of virulence of phytopathogenic fungi remains elusive. In this study, we profiled the DNA methylation patterns of the phytopathogenic fungus , one of the major causal pathogens of wilt disease that causes great losses in many crops, and explored its contribution in fungal pathogenicity.

A fungal effector suppresses the nuclear export of AGO1-miRNA complex to promote infection in plants.

Communication between interacting organisms via bioactive molecules is widespread in nature and plays key roles in diverse biological processes. Small RNAs (sRNAs) can travel between host plants and filamentous pathogens to trigger transkingdom RNA interference (RNAi) in recipient cells and modulate plant defense and pathogen virulence. However, how fungal pathogens counteract transkingdom antifungal RNAi has rarely been reported.