Oomycete pathogens deliver many effectors to enhance virulence or suppress plant immunity. Plant immune networks are interconnected, in which a few effectors can trigger a strong defense response when recognized by immunity-related proteins. How effectors activate plant defense response remains poorly understood. Here we report
Phytophthora capsici
effector RxLR23
KM
can induce plant cell death and plant immunity. RxLR23
KM
specifically binds to ERD15La, a regulator of abscisic acid and salicylic acid pathway, and the binding intensity depends on the amino acid residues (K
93
and M
320
). NbNAC68, a downstream protein of ERD15La, can stimulate plant immunity that is compromised after binding with ERD15La. Silencing of NbNAC68 substantially prevents the activation of plant defense response. RxLR23
KM
binds to ERD15La, releasing NbNAC68 to activate plant immunity. These findings highlight a strategy of plant defense response that ERD15La as a central regulator coordinates RxLR23
KM
to regulate NbNAC68-triggered plant immunity.