Comparative secretome analysis unveils species-specific virulence factors in , the causative agent of the scab disease of avocado ().

The scab disease, caused by , poses a significant risk to avocado () production in countries with warm and humid climates. Although the genome has been published, the precise virulence factors accountable for the pathogenicity of have not yet been determined. The current study employed an in silico approach to identify and functionally characterize the secretory proteins of . A total of 654 potential secretory proteins were identified, of which 190 were classified as carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes), 49 as proteases, and 155 as potential effectors. A comparison to six other closely related species identified 40 species-specific putative effectors in , indicating their specific involvement in the pathogenicity of on avocado. The data presented in this study might be valuable for further research focused on understanding the molecular mechanisms that contribute to the pathogenicity of on avocado.