Mobile fungal 'Starship' carries protein that triggers crop leaf loss
Researchers have identified a specific gene in the fungus Verticillium dahliae that causes leaf loss in cotton and olive trees. This gene is carried by mobile genetic elements called 'Starships,' which allow the pathogen to spread virulence between different fungal species.
Why it matters
Understanding the genetic mechanisms of crop-destroying pathogens is essential for developing agricultural defenses and ensuring food security.
edited by Lisa Lock , reviewed by Robert Egan
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Add as preferred source Phenotype of cotton plants inoculated with various sequenced Verticillium dahliae strains. Credit: Nature Communications (2026). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-026-74504-z An international research team led by plant scientist Professor Dr. Bart Thomma of the Institute of Plant Sciences at the University of Cologne, the MiBiNet Collaborative Research Center and the CEPLAS Cluster of Excellence for Plant Sciences has identified the region of the genome in the pathogenic fungus Verticillium dahliae responsible for producing a specific protein that the pathogen secretes during infection.
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