Plant pathogens, such as fungi, oomycetes, and bacteria, are responsible for significant plant production losses worldwide in agriculture and natural ecosystems. For example, diseases caused by fungal pathogens including rice blast (Magnaporthe oryzae), wheat stem rust (Puccinia graminis) and wheat powdery mildew (Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici), and oomycetic diseases such as potato blight (Phytophthora infestans) which was the causative agent of the Irish potato famine, are of immediate concern for global food security. The broad spectrum and underlying mechanisms of the interactions between plants and attacking pathogens needs to be elucidated to combat these plant pathogens. However, currently, there remain many gaps in our understanding.
It is widely recognized that plant pathogens employ an array of secreted proteins (called 'effectors') to manipulate plant physiological processes and defense systems in favor of their infection. In contrast, plants have developed a sophisticated innate immune system to defend themselves against such attacks. The apoplastic space between the plant cell wall and the plasma membrane constitutes the important battle frontline for plant-pathogen interactions. To survive in the harsh apoplastic environment, pathogens must cope with various immune responses. To do so, pathogens secrete an arsenal of apoplastic effectors into the apoplast milieu. Some of them were known to be detected by the plant surveillance system or to counterstrike plant immune responses; however, most apoplastic effectors' nature, functions, and roles during the interactions are still a conundrum. Recently, much attention has been paid to such effectors. Increasing evidence shows that apoplastic effectors play essential roles in plant-pathogen interactions.
This research topic aims to bring together a collection of papers focusing on identifying and characterizing the apoplastic effectors using different molecular tools, emphasizing their diversification/conservation, evolution, and functions during the plant-pathogen interactions. We welcome the submissions of Original Research Articles, Methods, and Reviews (please contact the Guest Editors before submission) related to, but not limited to, the following subtopics:
1. Identification of apoplastic effectors using omics approaches or bioinformatic tools. Meanwhile, validation of them with experimental analysis is required.
2. Investigation of the diversity/conservation or evolution of apoplastic effector families.
3. Functional study of pathogenesis-related genes encoding apoplastic effectors.
4. Discovery of novel mechanisms in plant-pathogen interactions associated with apoplastic effectors.
5. Application of apoplastic effectors for diagnosis and control of plant diseases.
6. Development of related database platforms or bioinformatics tools.
Plant pathogens, such as fungi, oomycetes, and bacteria, are responsible for significant plant production losses worldwide in agriculture and natural ecosystems. For example, diseases caused by fungal pathogens including rice blast (Magnaporthe oryzae), wheat stem rust (Puccinia graminis) and wheat powdery mildew (Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici), and oomycetic diseases such as potato blight (Phytophthora infestans) which was the causative agent of the Irish potato famine, are of immediate concern for global food security. The broad spectrum and underlying mechanisms of the interactions between plants and attacking pathogens needs to be elucidated to combat these plant pathogens. However, currently, there remain many gaps in our understanding.
It is widely recognized that plant pathogens employ an array of secreted proteins (called 'effectors') to manipulate plant physiological processes and defense systems in favor of their infection. In contrast, plants have developed a sophisticated innate immune system to defend themselves against such attacks. The apoplastic space between the plant cell wall and the plasma membrane constitutes the important battle frontline for plant-pathogen interactions. To survive in the harsh apoplastic environment, pathogens must cope with various immune responses. To do so, pathogens secrete an arsenal of apoplastic effectors into the apoplast milieu. Some of them were known to be detected by the plant surveillance system or to counterstrike plant immune responses; however, most apoplastic effectors' nature, functions, and roles during the interactions are still a conundrum. Recently, much attention has been paid to such effectors. Increasing evidence shows that apoplastic effectors play essential roles in plant-pathogen interactions.
This research topic aims to bring together a collection of papers focusing on identifying and characterizing the apoplastic effectors using different molecular tools, emphasizing their diversification/conservation, evolution, and functions during the plant-pathogen interactions. We welcome the submissions of Original Research Articles, Methods, and Reviews (please contact the Guest Editors before submission) related to, but not limited to, the following subtopics:
1. Identification of apoplastic effectors using omics approaches or bioinformatic tools. Meanwhile, validation of them with experimental analysis is required.
2. Investigation of the diversity/conservation or evolution of apoplastic effector families.
3. Functional study of pathogenesis-related genes encoding apoplastic effectors.
4. Discovery of novel mechanisms in plant-pathogen interactions associated with apoplastic effectors.
5. Application of apoplastic effectors for diagnosis and control of plant diseases.
6. Development of related database platforms or bioinformatics tools.
