Spray-induced gene silencing in phytopathogen: Mechanisms, applications, and progress

Phytopathogens can continuously cause serious losses worldwide to crop, fruit, and vegetable yields. The excessive use of conventional fungicides in pathogen management has raised severe environmental and health side effects and induced fungicide-resistant pathogen strains. RNA-based spray-induced gene silencing (SIGS) has emerged as an ecologically sustainable pathogen control approach. Here, we introduce the SIGS mechanism in plant pathogens, summarize the application of SIGS in controlling plant pathogens, and highlight the major considerations of SIGS. In addition, we propose the future perspectives of SIGS in crop protection and disease management.