Contributing to Fusarium wilt management through an ecological lens: detection of putative effector genes in non-pathogenic Fusarium oxysporum

Fusarium oxysporum (Fo) is a soil-borne fungus causing disease in over 120 crops worldwide. The mechanism of Fo-host interactions remains unclear but is fundamental to disease management. Secreted In Xylem (SIX) putative effector genes are traditionally associated with pathogenicity. However, most SIX gene functions have not been studied. SIX genes were recently detected in non-pathogenic isolates from banana. In this study, we detected SIX genes in Fo non-pathogenic isolates from chickpea and tomato.