Specific strains of nonpathogenic rhizobacteria can induce systemic resistance that is effective against a range of plant pathogens. To exploit induced systemic resistance, detailed knowledge of the triggering bacterial traits involved and on signal transduction pathways in the plant is necessary. Possibilities to improve effectiveness of induced resistance by rhizobacterial strains are discussed.

Many plants produce low-molecular-weight compounds which inhibit the growth of phytopathogenic fungi in vitro. These compounds may be preformed inhibitors that are present constitutively in healthy plants (also known as phytoanticipins), or they may be synthesized in response to pathogen attack (phytoalexins). Successful pathogens must be able to circumvent or overcome these antifungal defenses...

Plant steroid hormones, brassinosteroids (BRs), play essential roles in plant growth, development and stress responses. However, mechanisms by which BRs interfere with plant resistance to virus remain largely unclear. In this study, we used pharmacological and genetic approaches in combination with infection experiments to investigate the role of BRs in plant defense against Tobacco Mosaic Viru...

The evolution of resistance-breaking capacity in pathogen populations has been shown to depend on the plant genetic background surrounding the resistance genes. We evaluated a core collection of pepper (Capsicum annuum) landraces, representing the worldwide genetic diversity, for its ability to modulate the breakdown frequency by Potato virus Y of major resistance alleles at the pvr2 locus enco...

A study was conducted to assess the durable resistance in a near isogenic line of spring wheat (Triticum aestivalis L.), possessing resistance gene Yr-18 to some isolates (race specific resistance) of stripe rust (Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici), namely Thatcher Yr-18 and durable resistance of an cultivar of spring wheat to all isolates of stripe rust (race non- specific resistance), namel...

Method of increasing resistance to a pathogen or a pest in a plant comprising introducing into the plant and expressing therein a polynucleotide comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding a Qua-Quine Starch (QQS) polypeptide; method of producing a plant with increased resistance to a pathogen or a pest comprising crossing a plant obtained in accordance with the above method with a second plant t...

Combining plant genetic resistance with architectural traits that are unfavorable to disease development is a promising strategy for reducing epidemics. However, few studies have identified root system architecture (RSA) traits with the potential to limit root disease development. Pea is a major cultivated legume worldwide and has a wide level of natural genetic variability for plant architectu...

Understanding the mechanistic basis of why a certain pathogen causes disease in one host plant and not in another has long intrigued and motivated plant pathologists. Plants, in nature, are generally resistant to most pathogens. The ability of a pathogen to cause disease in a host plant is usually the exception, not the rule. This is because plants have an innate ability to recognize potential ...