Abstract: SWEET (sugars will eventually be exported transporters) proteins are a novel class of sugar transporter proteins that mediate the bidirectional transmembrane transport of sugars in cells and play important functions in plant growth and development,  including phloem loading,  phytohormone transport,  flower,  fruit and seed development,  interactions between plants and pathogen, and symbiosis between plants and microorganisms.  SWEET proteins are important participant in the process of plant-pathogen interactions. We summarize the response mechanisms of SWEET proteins in biotic stresses, as well as the metabolic characteristics,  regulatory pathways and specific defense responses of SWEET genes when plants are infected with different pathogens (bacteria,  fungi,  nematodes and virus). We also discuss  the use of gene editing tools to edit SWEET genes to enhance plant resistance to pathogens and their application in agriculture. The aim is to provide a reference for in-depth research on the mechanism of  SWEET proteins involvement in plant-pathogen interactions and the use of SWEET genes for disease resistance breeding.

Key words: sugar transporter protein,  , SWEET protein, SWEET gene,  , plant-pathogen interaction,  , biotic stress,  , host defense,  , disease resistance breeding