Prosystemin-derived signals: bridging leaf microbiome dynamics and defense activation.
Castaldi V, Wicaksono WA, Criscuolo MC, Gualtieri L, Langella E
Plant Signaling
PubMedIt suggests that one day, instead of synthetic pesticides, gardeners and farmers might spray a natural plant protein to protect tomatoes from pests while also cultivating a healthier leaf microbiome — a more holistic, nature-aligned approach to crop protection.
Tomato plants naturally produce a defense protein called Prosystemin that helps them fight off insects and disease. Scientists took a small piece of that protein and sprayed it on tomato plants every two weeks, mimicking how a farmer might apply a crop treatment. They discovered this spray not only activated the plant's immune system but also changed which bacteria were living on the leaves — hinting that plant defense signals and leaf microbial communities are deeply connected.
Key Findings
The Prosystemin-derived peptide spray supported abundant bacterial communities on tomato leaves, reaching up to 4.6 log units in measured bacterial density.
The peptide broadened its known protective role beyond pests to also include defense against necrotrophic fungi, suggesting wider disease resistance benefits.
Biweekly foliar application altered the tomato phyllosphere microbiome and leaf volatile compounds, indicating the peptide influences both microbial ecology and plant chemistry simultaneously.
chevron_right Technical Summary
Researchers found that a natural protein fragment from tomato plants, when sprayed on crops, not only boosts the plant's own defenses against pests and disease but also shapes the community of beneficial bacteria living on the leaves.
Abstract Preview
Plant-derived peptides can act as resistance inducers and represent promising tools for sustainable crop protection. Despite growing interest and application, their broader effects on plant-associa...
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The tomato is a plant whose fruit is an edible berry that is eaten as a vegetable. The tomato is a member of the nightshade family that includes tobacco, potato, and chili peppers. It originated from western South America, and may have been domesticated there, in Mexico, or in Central America. Th...