Phd in ENVIRONMENTAL AND EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY

Thesis title: Exploring effector profiles of soil-borne plant pathogenic fungi

Soil-borne plant pathogens as Verticillium dahliae and Fusarium oxysporum deploy diverse repertoires of effector proteins to manipulate host immunity and infect the host. This study investigates the D effector, identified initially in V. dahliae and shown to induce defoliation in cotton, examining its homologs in various Fusarium species. Findings confirm that D effectors exhibit similar virulence roles across Fusarium, affecting cotton and cucurbit hosts, suggesting a broader host specificity. Another focus of this study is the Av2 effector from V. dahliae, which has known antimicrobial properties that potentially disrupt host microbiota by inhibiting beneficial microbes that aid plant defences. Through comparative genomics and in vitro experiments, the study elucidates effector-mediated pathogenicity mechanisms and traces the evolution of virulence traits in these pathogens. These findings advance our understanding of effector-driven pathogenesis and evolution in soil-borne fungi, providing a critical foundation for future strategies in sustainable disease management and crop resilience.