Pathogenesis-Related Proteins and Plant Defense

Abstract

Plants represent the largest and most important group of autotrophic organisms. Their abundant organic material serves as nutritional source for all heterotrophic organisms, including animals, insects, and microorganisms, and, as a consequence, they have developed effective mechanisms to protect themselves against herbivores and pathogens. Despite the large number of fungi and bacteria that are actively involved in the decomposition of dead plant material, very few of these potentially pathogenic microorganisms have acquired the ability to colonize living plants. Thus, plants exhibit natural resistance to microbial attack (non-host resistance, incompatible interaction), and disease is the exception rather than the rule (Chap. 16, Vol. V, Part B).