OpenAlex · 2027-01-01
Researchers identified and characterized the biochemical pathway wheat uses to produce N-hydroxypipecolic acid (NHP), a small molecule that acts as a master immune signal, priming the entire plant for defense after a local infection. This extends a discovery previously made only in lab plants to one of the world's most important food crops.
The NHP biosynthetic pathway — previously characterized mainly in the model plant Arabidopsis — was identified and functionally characterized in common bread wheat (Triticum aestivum).
NHP production in wheat is linked to activation of systemic acquired resistance (SAR), suggesting the pathway is conserved and functional across distantly related plant species.
This work provides a molecular basis for engineering or selecting wheat varieties with enhanced whole-plant immune priming, a trait with direct implications for reducing fungicide dependency in cereal production.
