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Virulence on Pm4 kinase-based resistance is determined by two divergent wheat powdery mildew effectors

Zoe Bernasconi1, Aline G Herger1, Maria Del Pilar Caro1

  • 1Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.

Nature Plants
|January 12, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Researchers identified the wheat powdery mildew effector AvrPm4, which interacts with the Pm4 resistance protein. A second component, SvrPm4, suppresses this interaction, revealing complex fungal virulence strategies.

Area of Science:

  • Plant pathology
  • Molecular genetics
  • Wheat-pathogen interactions

Background:

  • The wheat resistance gene Pm4 provides resistance against powdery mildew and blast.
  • Understanding effector-pathogen interactions is crucial for crop protection.

Purpose of the Study:

  • Identify the avirulence effector recognized by the Pm4 resistance gene.
  • Investigate the mechanisms of pathogen evasion of Pm4-mediated resistance.

Main Methods:

  • UV mutagenesis to identify avirulence effectors.
  • Functional validation in wheat protoplasts.
  • Genetic association and quantitative trait locus mapping.

Main Results:

  • AvrPm4, the effector recognized by Pm4, was identified and shown to interact with Pm4.
  • A second fungal component, SvrPm4 (previously AvrPm1a), suppresses AvrPm4-induced cell death.
  • SvrPm4 is recognized by the Pm1a immune receptor, highlighting dual roles.

Conclusions:

  • AvrPm4 is the direct target of the Pm4 resistance protein.
  • Fungal pathogens employ complex strategies involving multiple components to evade host immunity.
  • A single effector can interact with different immune receptors, offering new insights into virulence evolution.

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