Plants that come under attack from pathogens have an automatic immune response. Fungi get around this plant immunity by injecting proteins into the host plant cells. These 'effector proteins' enable the fungi to escape the plant's immune system and allow the fungal cells to enter the plant unrecognised.

However, scientists from the University of Exeter have discovered how fungal cells produce effector proteins and act quickly enough to evade plants' immune responses from the moment the fungus enters the host tissue.

The 'signalling mechanism' scientists discovered occurs very early in the fungal infection process, at a time when the fungi are most accessible to fungicide treatment. They said disabling the process could result in a new generation of fungicides that are able to act before the fungus has damaged the plant.

Professor Gero Steinberg from the University of Exeter commented, "Pathogenic fungi are a major threat to our food security – they can devastate crops and cost billions of pounds worth of damage. In fact, losses of wheat, rice, and maize to fungal pathogens, per year, are the same as the annual spend by US Department of Homeland Security – some $60 billion (£37bn).

"As fast growing microbes, fungi adapt rapidly to anti-fungal treatments," said Prof Steinberg. "So we need to develop new fungicides all the time. Our research has led to a better understanding of the mechanisms by which the intruder attacks and overcomes the plant defence. In order to efficiently protect crops, we must better understand molecular mechanisms like these that occur in the very earliest stages of infection."

Speaking about the research, Deputy Vice Chancellor, Professor Nick Talbot said "The University of Exeter is committed to tackling fundamental research questions to help control plant diseases, which threaten our food supply. We have built a very strong team of researchers studying fungal biology and plant pathology. This exciting discovery by Prof Steinberg's group provides a new potential route to disease control."