PubMed · 2026-06-26
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.
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.