-Mediated Suppression of Metabolic-Immune Coordination Compromises Cotton Defense Against Verticillium Wilt.

Verticillium wilt (VW), caused by , poses a significant threat to global cotton production. Through analysis of public transcriptome databases, this study identified , a C2H2 zinc finger protein transcription factor gene, which was significantly induced by . Suppressing expression via virus-induced gene silencing significantly enhanced cotton resistance to VW. This resistance manifested as a 1.2-fold increase in lignin deposition, optimized ROS (reactive oxygen species) homeostasis, and a 1.3-fold elevation in glucose levels. Transcriptome analysis revealed 338 differentially expressed genes in -silenced plants, with 97 upregulated and 241 downregulated. Key downregulated genes included (pectin methylesterase) and (polygalacturonase) in the pentose phosphate pathway, while the key upregulated genes comprised (cinnamate 4-hydroxylase) and (p-coumarate 3-hydroxylase) in the phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathway. Notably, in the plant-pathogen interaction signaling pathway, approximately half of the genes exhibited upregulated expression while the other half showed downregulation. Protein-protein interaction network analysis further revealed cooperative interaction between and the secoisolariciresinol dehydrogenase . This study is the first to elucidate as a negative regulator that compromises cotton disease resistance through a tripartite mechanism. These findings offer a novel approach to enhancing crop disease resistance by targeting the negative regulatory genes.