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Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions® (MPMI) @mpmijournal.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Interactions Review: "Leaf Rust in Rye: From Pathogen Biology to Host Defense and Resistance Breeding," by Monika Rakoczy-Trojanowska et al.: doi.org/10.1094/MPMI-02-26-0014-IRW

Fig. 1. Life cycle of Puccinia recondita f. sp. secalis. The complete fungus life cycle consists of five spore stages on two unrelated hosts and involves distinct sexual and asexual phases. Based on Kolmer et al. (2009). Created with BioRender.com.

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Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions® (MPMI) @mpmijournal.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

"Pathogen Species-Specific Differences in Induction of the Maize Polyubiquitin Gene Promoter in Transgenic Wheat," by Saeid Babaei et al.: doi.org/10.1094/MPMI-12-25-0174-R

Fig. 2. Infection of ZmUbi-RUBY wheat plants with different pathogen species caused betalain accumulation at infection sites.

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Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions® (MPMI) @mpmijournal.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Calcium-dependent protein kinases decode cellular calcium transients and play diverse roles in plant growth and stress responses. Ruoqi Dou et al. present a functional analysis of MpCPK28 in the liverwort Marchantia polymorpha: doi.org/10.1094/MPMI-02-26-0020-SC

Fig. 1. MpCPK28 is a calcium-dependent protein kinase.

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Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions® (MPMI) @mpmijournal.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

"A Novel Approach to Engineering Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus Infectious Clones by Disarming Key Nodes in Antiviral Defenses," by Haden C. Ball et al.: doi.org/10.1094/MPMI-12-25-0176-R

Fig. 5. Systemic symptoms in A, Nicotiana benthamiana and B, pepper (var. Anaheim) plants. Viral silencing suppressor (VSR) treatments were identified in each panel. Scale bars = 2.5 cm. Images taken when plants were 4 to 6 weeks postinoculation.

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Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions® (MPMI) @mpmijournal.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Through combined forward and reverse genetic analyses, Jinyi Tan et al. identified and characterized four Ras guanine nucleotide exchange factors (RasGEFs) in #Sclerotinia sclerotiorum: doi.org/10.1094/MPMI-02-26-0022-R #HIGS

Fig. 3. SsRasGEFa is required for proper fungal development, compound appressoria formation, and virulence in Sclerotinia sclerotiorum.

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Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions® (MPMI) @mpmijournal.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

"Exploring the Root Response to Multiple Stressors: Mechanisms Underlying Kiwifruit Vine Decline Syndrome (KVDS) Development," by Micol Guaschino et al. Learn more: doi.org/10.1094/MPMI-02-26-0017-R

Fig. 6. Proposed model for kiwifruit vine decline syndrome (KVDS) etiology, integrating transcriptomic and microbiome data.

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Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions® (MPMI) @mpmijournal.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Shota Morikawa et al. provide the first domain-level functional characterization of the virulence-regulating transcription factor ortholog Pf2: doi.org/10.1094/MPMI-01-26-0006-R

Fig. 1. PnPf2 truncations impact fungal virulence and necrotrophic effector (NE) expression during wheat infection.

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Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions® (MPMI) @mpmijournal.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

"Dual Involvement of Potyviral VPg-Interacting Protein (PVIP) and Eukaryotic Translation Initiation Factor Components with Bean Common Mosaic Virus and Bean Common Mosaic Necrosis Virus Resistance in Phaseolus vulgaris," by Fulgencio Espejel et al.: doi.org/10.1094/MPMI-07-25-0086-R

Fig. 3. In-silico structure prediction and docking simulations of bean common mosaic virus (BCMV) viral-genome linked protein (VPg) and Phaseolus vulgaris potyviral VPg-interacting protein 2 (PVIP2) as a cartoon drawing.

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Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions® (MPMI) @mpmijournal.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Resistance against #Bemisia tabaci is often broken at the high temperatures the whitefly prefers. Paula J. M. van Kleeff et al. found that GOLDEN2-Like 1 orthologs are conserved susceptibility targets of B. tabaci in #Arabidopsis and tomato: doi.org/10.1094/MPMI-05-25-0059-R

Fig. 1. S1 interacts and colocalizes with AtGLK1 and AtGLK2.

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Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions® (MPMI) @mpmijournal.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

Ruby Tiwari et al. engineered a short 22 amino-acid olive defensin-derived peptide that effectively controls #Botrytis cinerea through multiple modes of action. Learn more: doi.org/10.1094/MPMI-10-25-0149-R

Fig. 5. Translation inhibition activity of GMAOe1C_V1*. A, Luciferase activity of GMAOe1C_V1* was quantified. Sterile water was used as a negative control, and the translation activity was considered 100%. Cycloheximide (100 μg/ml) was used as a positive control. Student's t test was used to perform statistical analysis (biological replicates, n = 2; **P < 0.01; ***P < 0.001; ns, P > 0.05). Bars = mean ± SE. B, In vivo puromycin labeling showed translation inhibition activity of GMAOe1C_V1* (1.5, 3, and 6 μM).

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Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions® (MPMI) @mpmijournal.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

Results from Guixia Hao et al. indicate that TRI5 can serve as an effective RNAi target to reduce mycotoxin contamination and improve food safety. Learn more: doi.org/10.1094/MPMI-03-26-0030-R

Fig. 3. Fusarium graminearum TRI5 RNAi mutants reduce NX-3 contents but not disease levels in barley.

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Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions® (MPMI) @mpmijournal.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

Using a Medicago sativa nodule occupancy assay, Olivia N. Walser et al. found that a xoxF mutant strain was outcompeted by the wild-type strain only when lanthanides were available. Learn more: doi.org/10.1094/MPMI-08-25-0110-R

Fig. 6. Representative micrographs of Medicago sativa nodules stained with X-Gluc to qualitatively evaluate the expression of the GUS reporter fusions integrated downstream of the xoxF operon promoter in the xoxF mutant. Nodules were harvested at 16 weeks from gnotobiotic M. sativa plants that had been inoculated with a single Sinorhizobium meliloti strain grown in the presence or absence of lanthanum (La3+), as indicated. All samples were harvested at the same time and stained using identical procedures. Wild-type strain 2011 (no GUS) was used as a negative control. Results were similar among two independent experiments, and results shown are from a single representative experiment. Scale bars = 1 mm.

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Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions® (MPMI) @mpmijournal.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

Viral diseases arising in #sugarbeet ultimately impact sugar content, which translates to financial losses for growers. Alyssa Flobinus et al. provide the first characterization of two tobacco necrosis virus A variants identified in sugarbeet roots: doi.org/10.1094/MPMI-08-25-0107-R

Fig. 3. Example of systemic symptoms in soybean. In vitro RNA transcripts of the wild type (WT) or mutant #7 (#7) were inoculated on soybean leaves. Tobacco necrosis virus A (TNV A) was used as a control. Twenty days later, curly leaves, necrotic veins, and lesions were observed on apical leaves in the presence of the WT compared with the control and mutant #7. With TNV A, systemic infection was not always detected.

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Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions® (MPMI) @mpmijournal.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

"The Virulence Gene ToxB Is Both Amplified and Disrupted by Transposons in the Wheat Pathogen Pyrenophora tritici-repentis," by Ryan Gourlie et al. Learn more: doi.org/10.1094/MPMI-01-26-0003-R

Fig. 4. Synteny of the ToxB/toxb regions of Chr04 in Pyrenophora tritici-repentis.

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Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions® (MPMI) @mpmijournal.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying potato mop-top virus (PMTV)–host interactions, Shweta Roy et al. conducted comprehensive RNA-seq analysis comparing wild-type PMTV with a mutant lacking the 8K gene (PMTV-Δ8K) in #Nicotiana benthamiana: doi.org/10.1094/MPMI-10-25-0146-R

Fig. 1. Appearance of viral symptoms and relative virus accumulation in Nicotiana benthamiana plants used for transcriptome analysis. A, Typical yellow mosaic symptoms of potato mop-top virus (PMTV) and its mutant lacking the 8K gene at 14 days postinoculation (dpi) compared with healthy plant (mock). B, Relative fold accumulation of PMTV RNAs normalized to the expression of NbPP2A. The error bars represent the standard deviation. The differences in viral RNA accumulation are not significant: P > 0.05; Student's two-tailed t test.

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Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions® (MPMI) @mpmijournal.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

Eva C. Henningsen et al. generated nuclear haplotype-resolved genomes for 10 #Puccinia coronata f. sp. avenae isolates from Europe, Africa, and the Middle East and compared them with existing references for U.S. and Australian isolates: doi.org/10.1094/MPMI-08-25-0111-R

Fig. 2. Relationships between Puccinia coronata f. sp. avenae (Pca) haplotypes.

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Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions® (MPMI) @mpmijournal.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

“Rpp2 Encodes a TIR-NBS-WH-LRR Protein that Confers Resistance to Phakopsora pachyrhizi in Soybean,” by Katerina L. Holan et al. Learn more: doi.org/10.1094/MPMI-02-26-0013-R #soybean #soybeanrust #Phakopsora #diseaseresistance

Fig. 3. Silencing Rpp2 candidate genes in PI 230970 results in loss of resistance. Fourteen-day-old PI 230970 plants were subjected to one of four virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) pretreatments: inoculation with BPMV:Rpp2C1_Wms82, BPMV:Rpp2C6_Wms82, BPMV:Rpp2C11_Wms82, or BPMV:Empty-vector. Three weeks after silencing, plants were inoculated with Phakopsora pachyrhizi isolate LA04-1, and plants were phenotyped 2 weeks later. A to F, Silencing by all three Rpp2C constructs resulted in loss of resistance to P. pachyrhizi, with plants exhibiting TAN lesions and sporulating uredinia on both the abaxial and adaxial surface of the leaf. G and H, Empty-vector control plants were resistant, developing red-brown lesions and occasional uredinia as expected. Scale bar = 0.5 cm.

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Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions® (MPMI) @mpmijournal.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

Asher I. Hudson, Maggie R. Wagner, and Peter J. Balint-Kurti investigated the production of reactive oxygen species following treatment with microbial elicitors in maize hybrids and their inbred parents: doi.org/10.1094/MPMI-08-25-0100-SC

Fig. 1. Reactive oxygen species production measured with an L-012-based assay in relative luminescence units (RLU) following elicitation with flg22. The top and bottom panels show the results of assays begun at two different time points, either 1 or 3 h after dawn. Points are means from eight biological replicates, and bars represent standard error. The experiment was repeated twice with similar results. Note the difference in magnitude on the vertical axis between time points.

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Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions® (MPMI) @mpmijournal.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

Huan Zhang et al. identified an Fov4-specific nonribosomal peptide synthetase gene, FNP1, and uncovered a previously unknown role in controlling fusaric acid production, environmental stress adaptation, and virulence in Fov4: doi.org/10.1094/MPMI-01-26-0004-R

Fig. 6. Infection of cotton roots by green fluorescent protein (GFP)-tagged strains tubulin-GFP-wild type (WT) and tubulin-GFP-Δfnp1 at 3 and 6 days postinoculation (dpi).

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Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions® (MPMI) @mpmijournal.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

Anastasios Samaras et al. characterized the functional role of a novel effector—Mo2928Fm—in the infection biology of a highly virulent #Magnaporthe oryzae strain isolated from finger millet in Uganda. Learn more: doi.org/10.1094/MPMI-02-26-0019-SC

Fig. 1. The Mo2928Fm effector contributes to Magnaporthe oryzae virulence.

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Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions® (MPMI) @mpmijournal.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

Interactions Review: "Current Understanding of the Genetic and Molecular Interactions Between the Tar Spot Pathogen Phyllachora maydis and Maize," by Abigail Rogers et al. Learn more: doi.org/10.1094/MPMI-01-26-0009-IRW

Fig. 1. Tar spot disease in maize. Tar spot infection in A, an Indiana corn field; B, a corn ear; and C, a leaf section. D, Light microscopy image of a section of the stroma boxed in C, showing different cellular structures of the tar spot infection in maize leaf cells (see text for details). The section was stained with toluidine blue. Scale bar is 100 µM.

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Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions® (MPMI) @mpmijournal.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

Editor’s Pick: “Transcriptional Regulation of Protein Trafficking Machinery in the Legume–Rhizobia Symbiosis,” by Christina Stonoha-Arther, Julie Sun, and Dong Wang. Learn more: doi.org/10.1094/MPMI-07-25-0092-R

Fig. 1. DNF1 and DNF1L are paralogs in Medicago truncatula. A, Nodules on Jemalong wild-type hairy roots transformed with empty vector.

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Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions® (MPMI) @mpmijournal.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

Editor’s Pick: Yi Zhang et al. demonstrate that the #Arabidopsis ubiquitin ligase (E3) XBAT35.2 positively regulates FLS2-mediated PTI by modulating FLS2 protein stability. Learn more: doi.org/10.1094/MPMI-02-26-0015-R

Fig. 3. XBAT35.2 is localized to the plasma membrane (PM) and Golgi apparatus. Subcellular localization of XBAT35.2 in Arabidopsis leaf protoplasts. The YFP signals are pseudo-colored in red, whereas CFP signals are pseudo-colored in green. PIP2A-CFP and Man49-CFP are PM and Golgi apparatus-specific markers, respectively (Nelson et al. 2007). White bar, 20 micrometers (μm). Experiments were repeated three times with similar results.

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Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions® (MPMI) @mpmijournal.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

Ludivine Guigard et al. evaluated the rice transcriptional response to a diversity of bacteria spanning from root pathogens to plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria in hydroponic conditions. Learn more: doi.org/10.1094/MPMI-09-25-0129-FI

Fig. 2.
Microscopic observations of each bacterial pattern of colonization. Rice roots at 7 days postinoculation colonized by fluorescent strains of A, Escherichia coli DH5α; B, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia ABIP44; C, Pseudomonas defensor WCS374r; D, Bradyrhizobium sp. ORS278; E, Azospirillum sp. B510; and F, Burkholderia plantarii ATCC 43733. Each colored dot (in bright red for A, B, C, and F; in bright green for D and E) is a bacterium colonizing the root (lighter red and lighter green for each panel).

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Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions® (MPMI) @mpmijournal.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

Parijat S. Juvale et al. report that a novel #Arabidopsis thaliana kinase cascade shows telltale similarities to the kinase cascades of oxidative stress response kinases from humans and animals. Learn more: doi.org/10.1094/MPMI-11-25-0159-FI

Fig. 1.
Characterizing the Hs28B03-interacting protein kinase AtOSRK1.

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Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions® (MPMI) @mpmijournal.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

Hiroshi Yoshida et al. established a copper-inducible gene expression system for tomato hairy roots that enables precise, on-demand activation of immune signaling in the root tissue: doi.org/10.1094/MPMI-11-25-0160-FI

Fig. 4.
On-demand gene expression system enables localization analyses of immune molecules in their active forms. For subcellular localization analysis, hairy root transformation in Solanum lycopersicum was performed using the all-in-one vector system encoding GUS-EGFP, NRC4DV-EGFP, NRC4WT-EGFP, or Gpa2NB-EGFP under the CBS4-miniDFR promoters. Transgenic roots were vacuum-infiltrated in copper or mock solution and then placed on copper or mock plates. Confocal micrographs were acquired at 1 day after treatment. Images are representative of three independent experiments, and the experiments were repeated with similar results. A and B, EGFP fluorescence (left), mCherry fluorescence (middle), and overlay (right, EGFP in green and mCherry in magenta) are shown. Scale bar = 30 μm. Yellow arrowheads indicate particular cells.

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Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions® (MPMI) @mpmijournal.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

Kipa Tamrakar et al. elucidated the role of #rhizosphere microbial composition and activity, both in the presence and absence of #Fusarium virguliforme, across two commercial soybean cultivars with differing susceptibility to SDS: doi.org/10.1094/MPMI-09-25-0121-FI

Fig. 1.
Comprehensive overview of the experimental design for rhizosphere microbiome profiling in sudden death syndrome (SDS)-tolerant (Tol) and SDS-susceptible (Sus) plants.

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Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions® (MPMI) @mpmijournal.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

Esmaeil Miraeiz, Lucas Borges dos Santos, and Matthew E. Hudson highlight how integrative functional genomics is reshaping the discovery of resistance genes, clarifying soybean cyst nematode virulence strategies, & guiding the development of more durable management approaches: bit.ly/4u9fiVb

Fig. 1.
Life cycle of the soybean cyst nematode (SCN) and major plant resistance responses. A and B, The SCN life cycle, from eggs in the soil through root invasion, feeding site establishment, and maturation into adult females and cysts. C, The key, validated cellular processes associated with the Rhg1- and Rhg4-mediated resistance pathways, which act at the syncytium to limit nematode establishment and development.

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Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions® (MPMI) @mpmijournal.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

#Agroathelia rolfsii causes stem rot in multiple crops. Naveen Arakkal Thaiparambil et al. demonstrated the multifaceted potential of #Trichoderma virens DM5 as an effective and sustainable agent for managing tomato southern blight caused by A. rolfsii. doi.org/10.1094/MPMI-07-25-0075-FI

Fig. 1.
Dual culture plates of Trichoderma virens DM5 versus Agroathelia rolfsii. T. virens DM5 grew directionally toward A. rolfsii and established physical contact, resulting in the suppression of A. rolfsii growth.

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Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions® (MPMI) @mpmijournal.bsky.social · 11/06/2026

Review: "Unseen Struggles: How Plant-Parasitic Nematodes Manipulate ROS Signaling in Host Plants," by Anil Kumar, Chunoti Changwal, and Thomas J. Baum: doi.org/10.1094/MPMI-11-25-0161-FI

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Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions® (MPMI) @mpmijournal.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

Findings from Komal Pervaiz et al. provide new molecular insights into how #Magnaporthe oryzae responds to antagonistic barley-associated bacteria under in vitro conditions: doi.org/10.1094/MPMI-11-25-0158-FI

Fig. 1.
Confrontation assay between Magnaporthe oryzae and bacterial isolates.

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Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions® (MPMI) @mpmijournal.bsky.social · 03/06/2026

Csaba Gellért et al. highlight how legumes employ elements of their immune system for the negative selection of rhizobia via processes resembling the gene-for-gene model of effector-triggered immunity in plant–pathogen interactions. Read the Interactions Review to learn more: bit.ly/49LmYo9

Fig. 1.
Concept of partner selection in symbiosis.

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Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions® (MPMI) @mpmijournal.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

Pei-Cheng Huang et al. identified a novel rhizobacterium with a broad host range that promotes growth and systemic resistance across multiple plant species in a jasmonic acid-dependent, ketol-driven manner. Learn more: doi.org/10.1094/MPMI-10-25-0142-FI

Fig. 1.
RcP500 is an abundant root-associated beneficial bacterium in switchgrass that elicits induced systemic resistance (ISR) against Bipolaris leaf spot in its host plants. A, Log2-transformed relative abundance of the core root microbiome of switchgrass. The relative abundance of ASV1 (from Edwards et al. 2023) with a 100% sequence identity match to RcP500 is indicated by the red arrow in the figure. B, Growth promotion effect of RcP500 on switchgrass (n ≥ 6) and Panicum hallii (n ≥ 14). C, Disease symptoms and lesion areas of phosphate-buffered saline (PBS; mock-treated control)- or RcP500-treated switchgrass (n ≥ 12) and P. hallii (n ≥ 24) after inoculation with Bipolaris oryzae, the causal agent of Bipolaris leaf spot (BLS). Bars are mean ± SEM. Asterisks represent statistically significant differences between treatments (two-tailed t test, *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ****P < 0.0001).

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Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions® (MPMI) @mpmijournal.bsky.social · 26/05/2026

The root-lesion nematode #Pratylenchus vulnus parasitizes a wide range of hosts, including woody perennials such as walnut and grapevine, significantly damaging roots and reducing yields. Dadong Dai et al. present a high-quality, chromosome-level genome assembly of P. vulnus: bit.ly/4u48AiZ

Fig. 1.
Overview of the Pratylenchus vulnus genome.

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Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions® (MPMI) @mpmijournal.bsky.social · 21/05/2026

Interactions between plant-parasitic nematodes (PPNs) and other phytopathogens can lead to disease complexes. Alison Blundell et al. discuss specific aspects of PPN life cycles that may facilitate disease complex formation: doi.org/10.1094/MPMI-10-25-0154-FI

Fig. 1.
Aboveground symptoms of root-knot nematode (RKN)–Fusarium complex on tomato. Processing tomato field infected with both RKN and Fusarium spp. in Yolo County, California, 2024. Accumulation of pathogens throughout the growing season has resulted in severe disease and death of the plants. Enhanced disease symptoms correlate with RKN-infected plants. This can be seen in the patchiness within the rows of the field.

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Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions® (MPMI) @mpmijournal.bsky.social · 13/05/2026

Using whole-genome resequencing data from 1,110 soybean accessions, Sushil Satish Chhapekar et al. identified novel allelic variation and unique haplotypes in diverse soybean germplasm that contribute to resistance against soybean cyst nematode: bit.ly/4eEqF2q

Fig. 2.
Evaluation of soybean cyst nematode (SCN, HG type 0; race 3) infestation in roots of susceptible control (PI 548313) and resistant lines (PI 522226, PI 522228, and PI 602492) after 5 days of infection. For each genotype, the left panel shows root 30 days postinfection, and the right panel displays acid fuchsin-stained roots at 5 days postinfection highlighting nematode presence. For PI 548313, the zoomed images show the development of cysts on roots.

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Reposted by Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions® (MPMI)

Mauricio Contreras @mpcontreras.bsky.social · 05/05/2026

📢 The next @mpmijournal.bsky.social Focus Issue is now open for submissions: "Plant Immune Receptors in the Spotlight" 🌱🔬 Edited by @dinglab.bsky.social @clemmar.bsky.social @marischuster.bsky.social Rich Wilson and myself! Submit your best work by 31/10/26! 👇 apsjournals.apsnet.org/mpmireceptors

apsjournals.apsnet.org

Plant Immune Receptors in the Spotlight

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Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions® (MPMI) @mpmijournal.bsky.social · 05/05/2026

NEW: Explore the latest MPMI focus issue, "Symbiotic and Pathogenic Interactions in the Rhizosphere": apsjournals.apsnet.org/toc/mpmi/39/2 #rhizosphere

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Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions® (MPMI) @mpmijournal.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

Plant resistance (R) and pathogen avirulence (Avr) gene interaction are central to pathogen recognition and disease resistance. Eric C. Pereira et al. identiﬁed an Avr candidate, AvrPstB48, that triggered defense responses in 16 out of 24 cultivars tested: bit.ly/4bu7o0u

Fig. 6.
The susceptible wheat cultivar Avocet S displays a delayed infection time course to Pst104E137A- when compared with Morocco. A, Leaf phenotypes at 8 and 10 days postinfection (dpi). B. Representative confocal micrographs showing the extent of infection inside the leaves at 8 and 10 dpi. Magenta corresponds to propidium iodide-stained cell walls and green to fungal structures stained with wheat germ agglutinin. Bars = 200 µm. C, Representative confocal micrographs showing callose deposition (cyan) associated with infectious hyphae (magenta). Bars = 25 µm. D, Infection progression and E, callose deposition over time in infected leaves. Asterisks denote significant differences according to Welch's t test at **P < 0.01 and ***P < 0.001.

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Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions® (MPMI) @mpmijournal.bsky.social · 16/04/2026

#Elsinoë arachidis is a major foliar pathogen responsible for peanut scab. Jingwen Hao et al. provided insights into the molecular mechanism that governs ESCB3-mediated virulence and elsinochrome production in E. arachidis and offers potential targets for control strategies: bit.ly/4sjCPll

Fig. 8.
ESCB3 affects the virulence of Elsinoë arachidis. A, Pathogenicity of ΔESCB3 on peanut leaves. Top: Mycelial suspension inoculation. Bottom: Extract from elsinochrome (ESC) inoculation. B, Quantification of the infection area. ImageJ was used to measure the infection area. Error bars represent standard deviations from three biological replicates. Asterisks (*) indicate a significant difference between the wild-type (WT) and ΔESCB3 strains (P < 0.05). *, P < 0.05.

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Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions® (MPMI) @mpmijournal.bsky.social · 15/04/2026

Elizabeth Deyett et al. demonstrated that pretreatment with two bacterial isolates from the grapevine endosphere, Pseudomonas viridiflava and Achromobacter vitis, reduced symptoms of Pierce’s disease and Xylella fastidosa titer comparable to a known biocontrol agent: bit.ly/4lzLqxH

Fig. 8.
Working model of Pierce's disease (PD) susceptibility/resistance related to timing of tylose development.

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Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions® (MPMI) @mpmijournal.bsky.social · 09/04/2026

Previous studies have provided a broader view of #Bacillus cereus AR156 control of tomato bacterial wilt. Zi-Jie Li et al. explored key WRKY transcription factors from transcriptional regulation perspective and provide a theoretical foundation for the biocontrol of diseases: bit.ly/47Rzbqq

Fig. 7.
A model of how WRKY4 regulates SSL3 to participate in resistance against tomato bacterial wilt induced by Bacillus cereus AR156. The colonization of AR156 at the roots induces systemic resistance in tomato plants. During this process, the WRKY4 transcription factor acts as a negative regulator and is downregulated. The suppression of SSL3 by WRKY4 is alleviated, allowing SSL3 to modulate downstream metabolic pathways, thereby enhancing resistance against tomato bacterial wilt.

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Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions® (MPMI) @mpmijournal.bsky.social · 08/04/2026

A recent study by Durga Bhavani KB et al. identified key players in diffusible signal factor (DSF)-mediated immune response and elaborated on the downstream events of DSF recognition as a pathogen-associated molecular patterns: bit.ly/4bgxzJd

Fig. 5.
A proposed working model of diffusible signal factor (DSF)-induced immune responses in Arabidopsis. DSF is perceived through a hitherto unknown receptor that activates MAP kinases and downstream genes, including defense marker genes, which ultimately results in callose deposition and resistance to bacterial infection. Plant functions working upstream of MAP kinase activation and activation of defense genes are still elusive.

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Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions® (MPMI) @mpmijournal.bsky.social · 02/04/2026

Darcy A. B. Jones and Sylvain Raffaele identified 215 effector-like proteins and refined our understating of effector diversity and organization in#Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. Read the article to learn more: doi.org/10.1094/MPMI-08-25-0101-R

Fig. 1.
The structural landscape of the Sclerotinia sclerotiorum effectome.

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Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions® (MPMI) @mpmijournal.bsky.social · 01/04/2026

Harringtonia lauricola causes a lethal disease called laurel wilt and threatens both native ecosystems and avocado production. Joshua L. Konkol, Qiang Wang, and Jeffrey A. Rollins identified key compatibility traits that enable H. lauricola to lethally colonize its tree hosts: bit.ly/3Nu5tRw

Fig. 12.
Micrographs of Harringtonia aguacate and H. lauricola interactions with sapwood of Persea palustris. A to F, H. aguacate-GFP.

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Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions® (MPMI) @mpmijournal.bsky.social · 26/03/2026

Editor’s Pick: “A Novel Chitinase-Like Family of Candidate Effectors Unique to Aphids,” by Rosa Lopez-Cobollo et al. Learn more: doi.org/10.1094/MPMI-08-25-0098-R Read the Commentary by Sandra V. Gomez-Gutierrez and Unnati Sonawala: doi.org/10.1094/MPMI-01-26-0010-CM

Fig. 3.
ACPISUM_029930 is a member of a previously unknown gene gamily, found only in aphids. Unrooted neighbor-joining tree based on BLASTP hits to ACPISUM_029930 protein sequence, with an E < 10−5 cutoff. Maximum dissimilarity 0.9. Search was restricted to representative species within the infraorder Aphidomorpha: Acyrthosiphon pisum (Ap, red), Myzus persicae (Mp, purple), Rhopalosiphum padi (Rp, blue), Cinara cedri (Cc, green), Daktulosphaira vitifoliae (Dv, pink), and Adelges cooleyi (Ac, orange). Annotations abbreviated for readability: HP, hypothetical protein; UP, uncharacterized protein. Isoforms were removed, as were short predicted proteins <250 amino acids. Tree was edited in TreeViewer. An equivalent tree for BLASTP to all species is shown in Supplementary Figure S4.

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Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions® (MPMI) @mpmijournal.bsky.social · 25/03/2026

Shaokang Zhang et al. identified a single amino acid change at two conserved residues in coat protein that compromises tomato brown rugose fruit virus systemic infection. Read the article to learn more about ToBRFV-encoded proteins at the molecular level: doi.org/10.1094/MPMI-07-25-0095-R

Fig. 8.
The CPD89 and CPR114 residues are required for virion formation.

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Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions® (MPMI) @mpmijournal.bsky.social · 19/03/2026

Editor’s Pick: “Structural Insights into WY Domain SLiM-Containing Conserved RxLR Effectors: A Case Study of Five Important Phytophthora Species,” by B. C. Salasini et al. Learn more: bit.ly/47PB72F Read the Commentary: bit.ly/3NIiVkM Read the press release: bit.ly/4lBvNpq

Fig. 6.
PpRxLR6 triggers a hypersensitive response (HR) in Nicotiana and Solanum species.

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Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions® (MPMI) @mpmijournal.bsky.social · 18/03/2026

NEW H. H. Flor Distinguished Review: “The Five Senses: How Do Plant Pathogens Know They Found Their Host?" by Rachel Hammond et al.: doi.org/10.1094/MPMI-10-25-0148-HH

Fig. 1.
The five senses: How do plant pathogens know they found their host? An illustration of various ways in which pathogens may sense their hosts, by analogy to the five classical human senses: 1, touch; 2, sight; 3, smell; 4, hearing; and 5, taste. The inset depictions of molecules/media that may convey the information that the pathogen has arrived at the host, as well as their locations in the host, are descriptive, not definitive.

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Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions® (MPMI) @mpmijournal.bsky.social · 11/03/2026

Jacob Searight et al. used whole-genome sequencing of 136 #Cercospora janseana isolates collected from Louisiana and Texas to investigate genetic diversity, population structure, and possible reproductive strategies: doi.org/10.1094/MPMI-03-25-0031-R

Fig. 1.
Principal components analysis (PCA) of Cercospora janseana isolates collected from Louisiana and Texas. Principal component (PC) 1 is shown on the x axis, and PC2 is shown on the y axis. Each circle represents a single isolate and is color-coded based on the respective sampling population. The PCA was conducted with 50,000 random variants.

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