Phyto-pathogenic fungi can cause huge damage to crop production. During millions of years of coexistence, fungi have evolved diverse life-style to obtain nutrients from the host and to colonize upon them. They deploy various proteinaceous as well as non-proteinaceous secreted molecules commonly referred as effectors to sabotage host machinery during the infection process. The effectors are important virulence determinants of pathogenic fungi and play important role in successful pathogenesis, predominantly by avoiding host-surveillance system. However, besides being important for pathogenesis, the fungal effectors end-up being recognized by the resistant cultivars of the host, which mount a strong immune response to ward-off pathogens. Various recent studies involving different pathosystem have revealed the virulence/avirulence functions of fungal effectors and their involvement in governing the outcome of host–pathogen interactions. However, the effectors and their cognate resistance gene in the host remain elusive for several economically important fungal pathogens. In this review, using examples from some of the biotrophic, hemi-biotrophic and necrotrophic pathogens, we elaborate the double-edged functions of fungal effectors. We emphasize that knowledge of effector functions can be helpful in effective management of fungal diseases in crop plants.

植物致病真菌可对作物生产造成巨大损害。在数百万年的共存中，真菌已经进化出多种生活方式，可以从宿主中获取营养并在其上定殖。它们在感染过程中将各种蛋白质和非蛋白质分泌的分子（通常被称为效应子）部署到破坏宿主机器的过程中。效应子是致病真菌的重要毒力决定因素，并且在成功的发病机理中起重要作用，主要是通过避免宿主监视系统。然而，除了对于发病机理很重要之外，真菌效应子最终还被宿主的抗性品种所识别，这些宿主对抵抗病原体具有很强的免疫反应。最近涉及不同病理系统的各种研究表明，真菌效应子的毒力/毒力功能及其参与调控宿主-病原体相互作用的结果。但是，宿主中的效应子及其同源抗性基因对于几种经济上重要的真菌病原体仍然难以捉摸。在这篇综述中，我们使用一些生物营养性，半生物营养性和坏死性病原体的实例，阐述了真菌效应子的双重作用。我们强调，效应子功能的知识可能有助于有效控制农作物中的真菌病害。在这篇综述中，我们使用一些生物营养性，半生物营养性和坏死性病原体的实例，阐述了真菌效应子的双重作用。我们强调，效应子功能的知识可能有助于有效控制农作物中的真菌病害。在这篇综述中，我们使用一些生物营养性，半生物营养性和坏死性病原体的实例，阐述了真菌效应子的双重作用。我们强调，效应子功能的知识可能有助于有效控制农作物中的真菌病害。