The warfare for plant highway: vascular plant–microbe interaction pinpoints lignin

Abstract Plant vascular pathogens are one kind of destructive in agricultural production. However, mechanisms behind the pathogen-recognition and subsequent defense responses plants not well known. A recent pioneering study on plant immunity discovered a conserved MKP1-MPK-MYB signaling cascade that activates lignin biosynthesis tissues to confer resistance both monocot rice dicot Arabidopsis. The breakthrough provides novel view offers potential strategy for future breeding disease-resistant crops.