Genome-wide identification of GAPDH gene family and functional analysis of CaGAPC2-mediated autophagy during BWYV infection in pepper

This study establishes that CaGAPC2 functions as a negative regulator of autophagy; its silencing enhances autophagy and limits BWYV. CP-RT interacts with ATG8f and is degraded by the autophagy pathway. Critically, activating autophagy using BTH effectively inhibits BWYV infection. These findings elucidate a CaGAPC2-mediated molecular defense mechanism against BWYV and provide a foundation for developing novel control strategies.