From signalling to resistance; delineating the multifaceted role of salicylic acid as the key modulator of biotic stress tolerance.
Bhar A, Gupta S, Banerjee DB
Plant Signaling
Every tomato, pepper, or rose you've ever lost to blight or mildew was fighting—or failing to fight—with exactly this chemical alarm system, and understanding it is how breeders may soon grow crops that remember past infections and resist them without pesticides.
When a plant comes under attack from a fungus, bacteria, or virus, it releases a natural chemical called salicylic acid that acts like a distress flare—triggering a cascade of defenses across the whole plant, not just the infected spot. What's remarkable is that this response can be 'remembered' by the plant and even passed down to its offspring, so future generations are better prepared. Scientists are now mapping every step of this process so they can breed crops that are naturally tougher without needing chemical sprays.
Key Findings
Salicylic acid (SA) is a central coordinator of both local and systemic (whole-plant) immune responses, operating through highly interconnected signaling networks rather than a single linear pathway.
SA signaling interacts with reactive oxygen species (ROS) and multiple other plant hormones in coordinated crosstalk, meaning immunity is a network effect, not a solo act.
SA-mediated defenses can prime transgenerational resistance—plants can pass acquired immune memory to their offspring, offering a potential avenue for durable crop protection without chemical inputs.
chevron_right Technical Summary
Plants use a hormone called salicylic acid as a master switch to activate their immune systems when attacked by pathogens. This review maps how that switch works—from the moment a plant detects a threat to the long-term, inherited disease resistance it can pass to future generations.
Abstract Preview
The sessile nature of plants and complete absence of humoral immunity equips them with complex mechanism of resilience against diverse stress factors. The innate immune system in plants mostly util...
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Crop-improvement refers to the systematic enhancement of plant varieties through selective breeding, genetic modification, and biotechnological approaches to develop cultivars with superior agronomic, nutritional, or environmental traits. This field is essential for addressing global food security,
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