UvAtg8-Mediated Autophagy Regulates Fungal Growth, Stress Responses, Conidiation, and Pathogenesis in Ustilaginoidea virens.

Our results indicated that the UvAtg8 is necessary for the fungal growth, stresses responses, conidiation, secondary spore formation, and pathogenicity of U. virens. Moreover, our research finding will potentially assist in further clarifying the molecular mechanism of U. virens infection, as well as provide a good marker for autophagy in U. virens and a good reference value for the further development of effective fungicides based on gene targeting.