Plant biotic stress is the harm caused to plants by other living organisms, including pathogens such as bacteria, fungi, viruses, and oomycetes, as well as herbivorous insects, nematodes, parasitic plants, and competing vegetation. This form of stress can impair plant growth, development, and reproduction, and it is…
Plant biotic stress is the harm caused to plants by other living organisms, including pathogens such as bacteria, fungi, viruses, and oomycetes, as well as herbivorous insects, nematodes, parasitic plants, and competing vegetation. This form of stress can impair plant growth, development, and reproduction, and it is a major cause of crop loss worldwide, with significant consequences for food security and agricultural productivity. Plants respond to biotic threats through layered defense systems, including physical barriers, the recognition of pathogen and pest molecules, the activation of immune signaling, and the production of defensive compounds, and they may develop both immediate and longer-lasting resistance. Understanding the genetic and molecular basis of these defenses is central to Plant Genetics and Crop Research, since it enables the breeding and engineering of crop varieties with improved resistance to disease and pests. As a field of study, plant biotic stress connects plant immunity, pathology, and crop improvement, drawing on genetics, molecular biology, and agronomy to reduce the impact of biological threats on cultivated plants. This page presents an encyclopedic overview of plant biotic stress, the organisms that cause it, and the defense and resistance mechanisms that protect plants and crops.
2 peer-reviewed articles, ranked by relevance. Each links to its DOI.
The 2 articles above have been cited 17 times in the scholarly literature. Citation data via OpenAlex and Crossref, updated Jun 2026.
A sample of recent works citing this journal's research on Plant Biotic Stress, linking to each citing work.