Fungal melanin plays a vital role in the survival, reproduction, infection, and environmental adaptation of plant pathogenic fungi. To develop innovative strategies for managing plant fungal diseases, comprehensive investigations into melanin are imperative. Such research is fundamental to elucidating the mechanistic basis of fungal pathogenesis and holds promise for the design of targeted interventions against melanin-mediated virulence determinants. This review systematically elaborates on the classification of fungal melanin in plant pathogens, provides a detailed analysis of the biosynthetic processes of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) and 1,8-dihydroxynaphthalene melanin (DHN melanins), and reveals the catalytic functions and regulatory mechanisms of key enzymes within these pathways. Melanin modulates fungal virulence by influencing appressorial integrity and turgor pressure formation, thereby participating in the host infection process and the formation of overwintering sclerotia. Melanin provides stress resistance by protecting against extreme environmental factors, including UV radiation and high temperatures. It also has the capacity to absorb heavy metals, which increases pathogen survival under adverse conditions. Furthermore, the review also explores the mechanisms of action of melanin inhibitors that target plant pathogenic fungi, providing a theoretical foundation for developing efficient and environmentally friendly antifungal medications. The complex biosynthesis pathways and diverse biological functions of fungal melanin highlight its significant theoretical and practical importance for elucidating pathogenic mechanisms and formulating scientific control strategies.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of non-coding RNAs approximately 20–24 nucleotides in length, which play a crucial role during gene regulation in plant–pathogen interaction. They negatively regulate the expression of target genes, primarily at the transcriptional or post-transcriptional level, through complementary base pairing with target gene sequences. Recent studies reveal that during pathogen infection, miRNAs produced by plants and miRNA-like RNAs (milRNAs) produced by fungi can regulate the expression of endogenous genes in their respective organisms and undergo trans-kingdom transfer. They can thereby negatively regulate the expression of target genes in recipient cells. These findings provide novel perspectives for deepening our understanding of the regulatory mechanisms underlying plant–pathogen interactions. Here, we summarize and discuss the roles of miRNAs and milRNAs in mediating plant–pathogen interactions via multiple pathways, providing new insights into the functions of these RNAs and their modes of action. Collectively, these insights lay a theoretical foundation for the targeted management of crop diseases.

C2H2 zinc finger (C2H2-ZF) transcription factors, characterized by the presence of a conserved ZnF-C2H2 domain, are widespread among plant-pathogenic fungi such as Magnaporthe oryzae, Fusarium graminearum, and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and have critical roles in the regulation of fungal growth, development, stress adaptation, and secondary metabolism. However, little is known about the presence and roles of C2H2-ZF transcription factors in Setosphaeria turcica (syn. Exserohilum turcicum), the causal agent of northern corn leaf blight. To address this gap, we identified the complete set of C2H2-ZF transcription factors in the S. turcica genome and characterized their structural characteristics, physicochemical properties, and protein–protein interaction network. We then used RNA sequencing to profile their expression dynamics during fungal development and host infection. The 27 S. turcica C2H2-ZF proteins were classified into three major subfamilies and contained six conserved motifs. All 27 genes were transcribed during 5 stages of fungal development, and 24 were expressed during the infection of susceptible maize, suggesting that they function in both fungal growth and pathogenesis. This study represents the first systematic characterization of C2H2-ZF proteins in S. turcica, offering insight into their potential roles in pathogenicity and establishing a foundation for future functional studies of individual family members.