Phytoalexins and their elicitors - a defense against microbial infection in plants
Some of the more important evidence is presented which supports the view that accumulation of phytoalexins at the site of attempted infection in plants. The accumulation of phytoalexins represents only one of a number of disease-resistance mechanisms in plants. Experiments are described demonstrating that the enzymes that catalyze the synthesis of phytoalexins are themselves synthesized de novo when plant cells are exposed to microbes of other effective stimuli. Evidence is also presented showing that phytoalexins, once accumulated, are catabolized or detoxified by many microorganisms as well as by the plants themselves. Elicitors are the major concern of this review. The literature is summarized in which elicitors are shown to be not only constituents of some microbes but also to be present in the cell walls of plants. A hypothesis is presented that suggests that all of the abiotic and some of the biotic elicitors stimulate phytoalexin accumulation by causing the release of an endogenous elicitor from the cell walls of plants. 108 references, 9 figures.
- Research Organization:
- Univ. of Colorado, Boulder
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC02-76ER01426
- OSTI ID:
- 5752449
- Journal Information:
- Annu. Rev. Plant Physiol.; (United States), Vol. 35
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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