Functional study of fusion protein SsUBA52 in the growth and development of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum.
Silencing SsUBA52 in Sclerotinia sclerotiorum increases pathogenicity and alters development, reducing sclerotia but boosting infection capabilities by 50%.
- Why it matters: Understanding the molecular mechanisms behind S. sclerotiorum's growth and pathogenicity is crucial for developing effective control strategies against this destructive fungus.
- What they did: Researchers constructed SsUBA52-silenced and complementary strains, analyzed subcellular localization, and performed transcriptomic and stress response assays to explore its functions.
- The result: Findings reveal SsUBA52 regulates autophagy, ubiquitination, and ribosome synthesis, and its silencing enhances infection, highlighting its potential as a target for controlling fungal pathogenicity.