Phytoplasma effector molecules and their structural aspects: A review

Plant pathogens cause innumerable crop diseases leading to significant yield losses and thus are a threat to agriculture and to global food security. Production of effector molecules by pathogens able to manipulate host machinery, is vital to their success. Therefore, an understanding of fundamentals of effector biology is important for addressing the threat posed by them. Recent advances in “omics” research have facilitated efficient identification of putative effector proteins, while evolving cellular, structural and biochemical approaches have assisted in elucidating their function. Furthermore, structures of effectors, in combination with host factors, provide opportunities for applying knowledge of effector biology to influence the disease outcomes. In this review, the structural aspect of some effector molecules of phytoplasmas is reported that can help the better understanding of plant pathogen interaction and develop measures against some devastating diseases associated with the presence of phytoplasmas in a vast array of economically important plant species.