Plant Defenses
Against Pathogens Plants have evolved complex and sophisticated mechanisms to defend themselves against pathogens. These defenses are categorized into physical and chemical barriers, which prevent the invasion of pathogens, and inducible defenses, which activate after the invasion of pathogens. Physical barriers typically involve waxy cuticle, thickened cell walls and lignin, while chemical defenses include antimicrobial molecules such as phenolics, glycosides and terpenes. Inducible defenses involve the induction of defense related genes, which upregulate the production of antimicrobial molecules and other defense-related proteins. These defense mechanisms not only protect plants from pathogens, but also serve as a source of novel compounds for drug development. Additionally, manipulation of these defense mechanisms can be used to improve crop yields and environmental stress tolerance.
← Journal of Advances in Plant Biology