Elicitors and Plant Defence

Abstract

Pest and disease control in agricultural crops include the use of chemicals which could be hazardous for people and environment. The obtainment of resistant genotypes as well as development of new strategies more environmentally friendly, seems to be of high priority in a sustainable agriculture. The use of elicitors to induce a faster and stronger defence response in plants seems to be a promising alternative. In this review, the different type of elicitors according to nature (physical or chemical), origin (biotic or abiotic) or structure (complex or well defined) are indicated. An insight into the complexity of the action mechanism, from perception at plasma membrane to the appearance of defence related products (phytoalexins and PR proteins, among others), as well as the evaluation of factors determining the success of elicitation are included. Finally, the priming process and its epigenetic basis, cross-factor priming and its possible use to improve disease management on commercial fruit orchards and the possibilities that transgenerational priming offers as a breeder´s tool, are discussed.