Role of pathogenic genes of Fusarium oxysporum, coding cell wall degrading enzymes during wilt infection in plants

Fusarium spp. is a filamentous fungus widely distributed on plants and soil, causing an important economic loss in the agro-feeding industry. Among Fusarium spp., Fusarium oxysporum is one of the most important fungal agent causing vascular wilt disease in a variety of crops. Fungal secondary metabolites/bio-molecules like cell wall degrading enzymes that are related to virulence of fungal agents would lead to identification of genes involved in controlling pathogenicity. These genes are responsible for production of extra-cellular enzymes in plant pathogenic fungi, which degrades the cell wall components of plants to provide entry of fungal infection in to the host cell. These fungi do not only digest plant cell wall polymers to obtain an important nutrient source but also degrade the cell wall enabling cell penetration and spread through plant tissue.