Corynespora Cassiicola Pathogenicity and Host Interactions

Corynespora cassiicola is a globally distributed ascomycete fungus responsible for a range of necrotrophic diseases in crops such as rubber tree, soybean, cucumber and cotton. The pathogen employs an arsenal of secreted effectors, cell-wall-degrading enzymes and secondary metabolites to breach host defences, precipitating leaf-spot and leaf-fall symptoms that reduce photosynthetic area and yield. In rubber tree, the cassiicolin family of host-specific toxins contributes to necrosis, while in soybean and cucumber complex networks of phenylpropanoid, flavonoid and hormone-mediated pathways dictate resistance or susceptibility. Genetic variation among isolates underpins host specialisation and aggressiveness, and populations often display clonal structure interspersed with regional diversity. Recent advances in genomics, transcriptomics and metabolomics have revealed the dynamic interplay between fungal virulence factors—such as carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes), non-ribosomal peptide synthetases and polyketide synthases—and plant immune receptors including nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat proteins. Integrative approaches combining genome-wide association studies with RNA sequencing have begun to pinpoint quantitative trait loci and regulatory networks that govern host resistance. Understanding these mechanisms is critical for breeding durable resistance, deploying targeted fungicides and managing emerging epidemics under climate change scenarios.

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Corynespora Cassiicola Pathogenicity and Host Interactions publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in corynespora cassiicola pathogenicity and host interactions across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Necrotroph: A pathogen that kills host cells and derives nutrients from the dead tissue.

Effector: A molecule secreted by a pathogen that modulates host cell structure or function to promote infection.

Carbohydrate-active enzyme (CAZyme): An enzyme that builds or breaks down complex carbohydrates, often involved in cell-wall degradation.

Quantitative trait locus (QTL): A genomic region that contributes to variation in a quantitative trait, such as disease resistance.

Genome-wide association study (GWAS): An approach that scans the genome for statistical associations between genetic variants and phenotypic traits.

Secondary metabolite biosynthetic gene cluster (SM BGC): A contiguous set of genes encoding enzymes for the production of specialised metabolites, including toxins.

References

1. Comparative Transcriptome Profiling Unfolds a Complex Defense and Secondary Metabolite Networks Imparting Corynespora cassiicola Resistance in Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merrill). International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2023).
2. Deciphering the genetic architecture of resistance to Corynespora cassiicola in soybean (Glycine max L.) by integrating genome-wide association mapping and RNA-Seq analysis. Frontiers in Plant Science (2023).
3. Clonality and geographic structure of host-specialized populations of Corynespora cassiicola causing emerging target spot epidemics in the southeastern United States. PLOS ONE (2018).
4. First characterization of endophytic Corynespora cassiicola isolates with variant cassiicolin genes recovered from rubber trees in Brazil. Fungal Diversity (2012).
5. Genomic Characteristics and Comparative Genomics Analysis of Two Chinese Corynespora cassiicola Strains Causing Corynespora Leaf Fall (CLF) Disease. Journal of Fungi (2021).