A fungal pathogen manipulates phytocytokine signaling for plant infection

Chenlei Hua (), Lisha Zhang, Annick Stintzi, Andreas Schaller, Hui-Shan Guo () and Thorsten Nürnberger ()
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Chenlei Hua: Eberhard-Karls-University of Tübingen
Lisha Zhang: Eberhard-Karls-University of Tübingen
Annick Stintzi: University of Hohenheim
Andreas Schaller: University of Hohenheim
Hui-Shan Guo: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Thorsten Nürnberger: Eberhard-Karls-University of Tübingen

Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-12

Abstract: Abstract Phytocytokines, hormone-like plant peptides, play crucial roles in immune regulation and development. Phytosulfokine (PSK), known to mediate plant growth, also modulates plant pattern-triggered immunity (PTI). Here, we demonstrate that VdSCP8, a small cysteine-containing effector from Verticillium dahliae, functions as a virulence-promoting protein that suppresses PTI in Arabidopsis thaliana and Nicotiana benthamiana. Apoplastic SCP8 suppresses immune activation mediated by leucine-rich repeat ectodomain pattern recognition receptors. SCP8 virulence and immunosuppressive activities require PHYTOSULFOKINE RECEPTOR 1 (PSKR1), which binds PSK and forms a complex with co-receptor BAK1 to suppress PTI. Our findings underscore SCP8’s role in PTI suppression, facilitating PSKR1-BAK1 complex formation and promoting PSK accumulation through a plant subtilase. These results highlight how a multi-host plant pathogen manipulates PTI through enhancing immunosuppressive PSK signaling.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-65934-2

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