Trichoderma swollenin activates AtABCB5-dependent auxin efflux to promote plant development.

Trichoderma swollenin activates AtABCB5-dependent auxin efflux, boosting plant development by promoting lateral root growth and cell responses.

• Why it matters: Understanding how beneficial fungi enhance plant growth can lead to improved crop yields and stress resilience, addressing key agricultural challenges.
• What they did: The study used structure-guided mutations and biochemical analyses to show that Trichoderma harzianum swollenin interacts with the plant transporter AtABCB5, increasing auxin efflux.
• The result: This mechanism reveals how fungal effectors manipulate host auxin transport, offering new strategies for microbe-assisted crop improvement and sustainable agriculture.