A conserved oomycete effector RxLR23 triggers plant defense responses by targeting ERD15La to release NbNAC68.

Oomycete pathogens deliver many effectors to enhance virulence or suppress plant immunity. Plant immune networks are interconnected, in which a few effectors can trigger a strong defense response when recognized by immunity-related proteins. How effectors activate plant defense response remains poorly understood. Here we report Phytophthora capsici effector RxLR23 can induce plant cell death and plant immunity. RxLR23 specifically binds to ERD15La, a regulator of abscisic acid and salicylic acid pathway, and the binding intensity depends on the amino acid residues (K and M). NbNAC68, a downstream protein of ERD15La, can stimulate plant immunity that is compromised after binding with ERD15La. Silencing of NbNAC68 substantially prevents the activation of plant defense response. RxLR23 binds to ERD15La, releasing NbNAC68 to activate plant immunity. These findings highlight a strategy of plant defense response that ERD15La as a central regulator coordinates RxLR23 to regulate NbNAC68-triggered plant immunity.