The Body Clock Controls Cotton’s Defense Against Verticillium dahliae by Regulating JAZ Proteins

Cotton overexpressing GhLUX demonstrates enhanced resistance to the fungal pathogen Verticillium dahliae while improving fiber yield and quality.

• The circadian clock influences root immunity against soil-borne pathogens.
• Cotton's nighttime resistance to Verticillium dahliae is linked to changes in the rhizosphere microbiome and the activation of immune signaling.
• Pathogen infection speeds up the circadian clock and disrupts the microbial community in the roots.
• GhLUX, a component of the evening complex, is crucial for regulating defense mechanisms against the pathogen.
• GhLUX boosts immunity by inhibiting GhJAZ expression, which enhances jasmonic acid signaling during the night.

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