VfUGT87H9 Enhances Fusarium Resistance in Vernicia fordii via Myricetin Glucosylation-Mediated Flavonoid Metabolism.

VfUGT87H9 boosts Fusarium resistance in Vernicia fordii by increasing myricetin-glucoside levels, with transgenic plants showing significantly higher pathogen defense.

• Why it matters: Understanding how plants enhance resistance to Fusarium oxysporum is crucial for improving crop resilience, as current knowledge of metabolic defense mechanisms remains limited.
• What they did: The study used transcriptomic analysis to identify 11 VfUGTs responsive to infection, and confirmed VfUGT87H9's role through enzymatic assays, correlation analysis, and transgenic overexpression experiments.
• The result: Overexpression of VfUGT87H9 led to higher myricetin-glucoside accumulation and increased pathogen resistance, highlighting its potential as a target for enhancing disease defense in plants.