Functional study of fusion protein SsUBA52 in the growth and development of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum.

Silencing SsUBA52 in Sclerotinia sclerotiorum increases pathogenicity and alters development, with silenced strains showing more compound appressoria and higher infection capability.

• Why it matters: Understanding the biological functions of SsUBA52 addresses gaps in knowledge about the regulation of growth, development, and pathogenicity in this necrotrophic fungus, which impacts crop disease management.
• What they did: The study constructed SsUBA52-silenced and complementary strains, analyzed subcellular localization, assessed growth under stress, and performed transcriptomic and functional assays to explore its roles.
• The result: Silenced strains exhibited reduced sclerotia, increased compound appressoria, enhanced infection ability, and elevated pathogenicity, with SsUBA52 acting as a positive regulator of autophagy and interacting with key signaling pathways.