Host Recognition by Plant Pathogens

Host-plant recognition by parasitic Scrophulariaceae.

Parasitic plants in the Scrophulariaceae invade the roots of neighboring plants in order to rob them of water and nutrients. A distinctive feature of these parasites is their ability to cue their development to small molecules released by host-plant roots. Evidence is continuing to emerge that parasite perception of host factors occurs via a redox-associated mechanism. Genes predicted to functi...

Escaping Host Immunity: New Tricks for Plant Pathogens

Fungal and oomycete plant pathogens cause destructive diseases in crops and pose real economic and food security threats [1]. These filamentous, eukaryotic organisms can also upset natural ecosystems when they spread invasively [2]. The capability of plant immune systems to detect and respond to pathogen effector proteins is a major determinant of disease susceptibility. Plant pathogen effector...

Recognition of pathogens by plants

Plants must respond appropriately to a broad array of abiotic and biotic factors in the attempt to accumulate nutrient reserves and reach reproductive maturity. To complicate matters, their stockpile of nutrients makes them prime targets for pathogen attack. Phytopathogenic bacteria, fungi, and viruses all make raids on the stockpile, yet most plants are able to remain disease free. Plants have...

Recognition of Host Plant Volatiles by Pheidole minutula Mayr (Myrmicinae), an Amazonian Ant-Plant Specialist

In the tropics, several ant species are obligate inhabitants of leaf pouches and other specialized structures in plants known as myrmecophytes. However, the cues used by ant queens to locate suitable host-plants following dispersal remain poorly understood. Here we tested the hypothesis that Pheidole minutula queens use volatiles to distinguish their host Maieta guianensis (Melastomataceae) fro...

ExoRNAi exposes contrasting roles for sugar exudation in host - finding by 1 plant pathogens