Nicotiana benthamiana LRR‐RLP NbEIX2 mediates the perception of an EIX‐like protein from Verticillium dahliae

Verticillium wilt diseases caused by the soil‐borne fungus Verticillium dahliae result in devastating yield losses in many economically important crops annually. Here, we identified a novel ethylene‐inducing xylanase (EIX)‐like protein, VdEIX3, from V. dahliae, which exhibits immunity‐inducing activity in Nicotiana benthamiana. In vitro‐purified VdEIX3 can induce strong oxidative burst, activate the expression of defense‐related genes, and increase resistance against oomycete and fungal pathogens in N. benthamiana. VdEIX3 orthologs of other Verticillium pathogens also induce cell death in N. benthamiana, which form a new type of EIX protein family that is distinct from the known EIX proteins. A leucine‐rich repeat receptor‐like protein, NbEIX2, regulates the perception of VdEIX3 in N. benthamiana. Our results demonstrate that VdEIX3 is a novel EIX‐like protein that can be recognized by N. benthamiana NbEIX2, and also suggest that NbEIX2 is a promising receptor‐like protein that is potentially applicable to transgenic breeding for improving resistance to Verticillium wilt diseases.