A structurally unique effector shared between vascular wilt fungi drives cotton and olive defoliation (opens in new tab)

Defoliating (D) strains of the vascular wilt fungus Verticillium dahliae cause severe yield losses in cotton and olive, but the genetic basis of this pathotype remained unknown. Using comparative genomics, functional genetics, structural analysis, and phylogenomics, we identify a D-pathotype–specific genomic region encoding two duplicated secreted effector genes. Simultaneous deletion of both copies abolishes pathogenicity and defoliation in cotton and olive, and affects virulence in Nicotian...