A FOX transcription factor phosphorylated for regulation of autophagy facilitates fruiting body development in Sclerotinia sclerotiorum.

Summary: Imagine a harmful fungus that attacks plants. To start its attack, it needs to build a special structure called a "fruiting body," which acts like a spore launcher. But how does the fungus get the building materials to grow this launcher? It uses a recycling system called autophagy to break down its own old parts.

Scientists just discovered the master switch for this fungal recycling plant: a protein called SsFoxE2. When this switch is flipped on by another protein, it teams up with a helper to boost the recycling process. This gives the fungus the energy and materials it needs to grow its spore launcher and spread disease to crops. Understanding this master switch could help us find new ways to protect our farms and plants!