Insights into the Mechanobiology of Phytophthora

Abstract

Phytophthora species, classified as oomycetes, are among the most destructive plant pathogens worldwide and pose a substantial threat to food security. Plant pathogens have developed various methods to breach the cuticle and walls of plant cells. For example, plant-pathogenic fungi use a ‘brute-force’ approach by producing a specialized and fortified invasion organ to generate invasive pressures [1]. Unlike in fungi, Phytophthora pathogens harness a specialized form of invasive tip growth to slice through the plant surface, wielding their hypha as a microscopic knife known as “naifu” invasion [2].