The small GTPases FoRab5, FoRab7, and FoRab8 regulate vesicle transport to modulate vegetative development and pathogenicity in Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. conglutinans
Scientists studied three proteins (Rab GTPases) in a fungal pathogen that causes cabbage wilt disease. These proteins act like traffic controllers, directing materials within fungal cells to support growth and disease spread. By removing these genes one at a time, researchers found that all three proteins are essential for the fungus to infect plants, produce spores, and survive stress conditions. This research could eventually help develop new ways to control this destructive crop disease.