Killing it softly: A roadmap of Botrytis cinerea pathogenicity

 

Kai Bi1, Yong Liang2, Tesfaye Mengiste3, Amir Sharon2*

 

1College of Life Science and Technology, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China

2School of Plant Sciences and Food Security, Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel

3Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Purdue University, 915 W. State Street, West Lafayette, IN 47907

 

*Correspondence: amirsh@tauex.tau.ac.il; Tel: +972 586469897

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Abstract

Botrytis cinerea, a widespread plant pathogen with a necrotrophic lifestyle, causes gray mold disease in many crops. Massive secretion of enzymes and toxins was long considered to be the main driver of infection, but recent studies have uncovered a rich toolbox for B. cinerea pathogenicity. The emerging picture is of a multi-layered infection process governed by the exchange of factors that collectively contribute to disease development. No plant shows complete resistance against B. cinerea, but pattern-triggered plant immune responses have the potential to significantly reduce disease progression, opening new possibilities for producing B. cinerea-tolerant plants. We examine current B. cinerea infection models, highlight knowledge gaps, and suggest directions for future studies.