A glycoside hydrolase 12 protein from Cytospora chrysosperma triggers plant immunity but is not essential to virulence

Abstract Phytopathogens secrete numerous effectors that facilitate their infection and colonization processes. However, the pathogenic mechanism of in Cytospora chrysosperma , causal agent canker disease many woody plants, remains poorly understood. In this study, we identified five glycoside hydrolase family 12 (GH12) effector genes C. genome, all which were significantly upregulated during stages. Among them, CcEG1 contains an additional carbohydrate-binding module 1 domain (CBM1) at C-terminal, was selected for further analysis. Transient expression studies showed localized to apoplastic region Nicotiana benthamiana acted as elicitor induce cell death, activate involved salicylic acid (SA), jasmonic (JA), ethylene (ET) signaling pathways. Furthermore, GH12 (position 43–249) sufficient death-inducing activity, rather than CBM1 domain. Additionally, leucine-rich repeat (LRR) receptor-like kinases NbBAK1 NbSOBIR1 required defense responses triggered by CcEG1. Intriguingly, deletion did not affect fungal pathogenicity, growth, response hydrogen peroxide wall integrity agents, but affected cellulase utilization. conclusion, our results suggest induces coreceptors - dependent plant immunity, increasing understanding about pathogenesis interaction between its host.