Plant pathogens secrete an arsenal of small secreted proteins (SSPs) acting as effectors that modulate host immunity to facilitate infection. SSP-encoding genes are often located in particular genomic environments and show waves of concerted expression at diverse stages of plant infection. To date, little is known about the regulation of their expression. The genome of the Ascomycete Leptosphae...

Control of blackleg (phoma stem canker) disease relies on crop management, fungicides and breeding for disease resistance. Proteins encoded by these resistance genes recognize avirulence (Avr) gene products in the fungus during invasion of the plant. However, these Avr genes can mutate resulting in fungal isolates becoming virulent, thus avoiding recognition by the plant. Widespread use of cult...