FpFumB Is Required for Basic Biological Processes and Virulence in by Modulating DNA Repair Through Interaction with FpSae2.

Fumarase plays a pivotal role in the tricarboxylic acid cycle, but its functions in plant pathogenic fungi are not well understood. We identified two fumarase genes in and generated individual deletion mutants. Loss of led to defects in growth, sporulation, stress tolerance, and virulence. Exogenous malate supplementation restored growth defects. Site-directed mutagenesis of residues G452 and A463 reduced FpFumB enzyme activity. Transcriptomic analysis identified significant changes in gene expression related to different metabolic pathways. Protein interaction assays showed that FpFumB interacts with the DNA repair protein FpSae2. Both Δ and Δ mutants displayed altered sensitivity to DNA-damaging agents and reduced virulence, indicating that FpFumB modulates DNA repair and pathogenicity through its interaction with FpSae2. Together, these findings highlight FpFumB as a key regulator of basic biological processes, DNA damage repair, and virulence in .