A fungal pathogen suppresses host leaf senescence to increase infection

Abstract

Phytopathogens such as Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst) induce pigment retention at pathogen infection sites. Although pigment retention is commonly observed in diverse pathosystems, its underlying physiological mechanism remains largely unclear. Herein, we identify and characterize a wheat leaf senescence gene, TaSGR1, which enhances resistance against Pst by promoting leaf senescence and H₂O₂ accumulation while inhibiting photosynthesis. Knockout of TaSGR1 (STAYGREEN) in wheat increases pigment retention and plant susceptibility. Pst_TTP1 (TaTrx-Targeting Protein 1), a secreted rust fungal effector critical for Pst virulence, binds to the plastidial thioredoxin TaTrx (Thioredoxin), preventing its translocation into chloroplasts. Within the chloroplasts, TaTrx catalyzes the transformation of TaSGR1 oligomers into monomers. These TaSGR1 monomers accumulate in the chloroplasts, accelerating leaf senescence, H₂O₂ accumulation, and cell death. The inhibition of this oligomer-to-monomer transformation, caused by the failure of TaTrx to enter the chloroplast due to Pst_TTP1, impairs plant resistance against Pst. Overall, our study reveals the suppression of redox signaling cascade that catalyzes the transformation of TaSGR1 oligomers into monomers within chloroplasts and the inhibition of leaf chlorosis by rust effectors as key mechanisms underlying disease susceptibility.