Conclusions
Since the discovery of EVs, there has been a growing interest in the mechanisms involved in the sorting and packaging of their cargo (proteins, nucleic acids, and so on). The components of ESCRT pathway function together to deliver proteins into EVs. ESCRTs are thus crucial in plant pathogenic fungi as they contribute to their pathogenesis, developmental and growth phenotypes. We hypothesize that plant pathogens use the ESCRT pathway to sort and package protein lacking signal peptides, and that ubiquitin modification is necessary for fungal pathogenesis. The exact role of this pathway requires further studies as proteins with signal peptides are also reported in EVs. Few plant pathogen studies have highlighted the importance of ESCRT proteins, especially in the sorting of virulent factors into EVs. We suggest that the core functions of the ESCRT pathway genes need to be investigated further in plant pathogenic fungi, particularly since it has been demonstrated that ESCRT protein dysfunction causes aberrant endosomal compartments and reduced ILV formation. The much-needed push provided by genome sequencing makes it simple to characterize this system in fungi with completely sequenced genomes. Through the characterization and detection of particular cargos sorted by the ESCRTs, we can gain further insights into possible mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of plant pathogen fungi. The ESCRT pathway is involved in the formation of MVBs, which release ILVs as EVs ‘exosomes’ loaded with bioactive molecules during heterotypic fusion. Intercellular contact, pathogenicity, and cellular homeostasis all depend on EVs. As a result, their release can serve as a barometer of disease, stress, or health. The information gained on the mechanisms involved in the pathogenicity effects of plant pathogenic EVs can serve as a stepping stone toward improving our ability to manage their damaging effects on agricultural crops and forests.