A SIX1 homolog in Foc R4T contributes to virulence towards Cavendish banana (2018)

Multiple races of Fusarium were reported to affect Cavendish, but it is currently unknown which virulence factors underlie these interactions. In the F. oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici (Fol)-tomato system, small secreted fungal proteins, called Six proteins, were identified in the xylem sap of infected plants that have avirulence function by activating the Y-3 immune receptor of tomato. The tropical race 4 (TR4) genome affecting banana harbours three homologues of SIX1: SIX1a, b and c; in this study, the role of SIX1 in contributing to the steps to identify in Cavendish was assessed.