D. U. Nilunda Madhusanka

Summary: Root‐knot nematodes ( Meloidogyne spp.) secrete effectors that suppress plant immunity; however, the mechanisms by which they counteract specific defense enzymes, such as chitinases, remain unclear. In this study, we demonstrate that the Meloidogyne incognita effector Minc10750 directly targets the catalytic domain of plant chitinases (Chi), serving as a critical determinant of virulence. The expression of Minc10750 is upregulated in the subventral esophageal glands during early infection. Its binding to the glycosyl hydrolase 19 domain of chitinases is strictly dependent on effector N‐glycosylation. A mutation at the asparagine glycosylation site (Minc10750‐Mu3) abolishes this modification, impairs its nuclear accumulation, and disrupts the interaction. Mechanistically, Minc10750 promotes the proteasome‐dependent destabilization of Chi proteins, thereby suppressing Chi‐triggered immunity, including mitogen‑activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation and reactive oxygen species burst. Consistently, Chi mutants exhibit enhanced susceptibility to nematodes, whereas Chi overexpression confers resistance. Transcriptome analysis further reveals that the Chi‐mediated expression of defense‐related transcription factors is compromised in Minc10750 transgenic plants. Our findings elucidate a mechanism by which a glycosylated nematode effector disables a core component of basal immunity, thereby providing a potential target for the engineering of nematode‐resistant crops.

Meloidogyne enterolobii, a highly virulent and broad-host-range plant-parasitic nematode, poses an increasing threat to global agricultural production. By inducing the formation of nutrient-rich giant cells in host roots and deploying a diverse array of effector proteins to modulate plant immune responses, this nematode achieves efficient colonization and invasion, resulting in impaired crop growth and significant economic losses. In recent years, global climate warming combined with the rapid development of protected agriculture has broken the traditional geographical limits of tropical and subtropical regions, thereby increasing the risk of M. enterolobii occurrence in temperate and high-latitude areas. Concurrently, conventional chemical control methods are increasingly limited by environmental pollution and the development of resistance, steering research toward green control strategies. This review systematically summarizes the latest research progress of M. enterolobii in terms of ecological diffusion trends, pathogenic mechanisms, and green control, and explored the feasibility of integrating multidisciplinary technologies to construct an efficient and precise control system. The ultimate aim is to provide theoretical support and technical supports for green and sustainable development of global agriculture.