Multigenic and Induced Systemic Resistance in Plants

Plants have developed very sophisticated mechanisms to combat pathogens and pestsusingtheleastamountofreservedorgeneratedenergypossible. Theydothis by activating major defense mechanisms after recognition of the organisms that are considered to be detrimental to their survival; therefore they have been able to exist on Earth longer than any other higher organisms. It has been known for the past century that plants carry genetic information for inherited resistance against many pathogenic organisms including fungi, bacteria, and viruses, and that the relationship between pathogenic organisms and hosts plants are rather complex and in some cases time dependent. This genetic information has been the basis for breeding for resistance that has been employed by plant breeders to develop better-yielding disease resistant varieties, some of which are still being cultivated. Single gene resistance is one type of resistance which has been extensively studied by many research groups all around the world using biotechnological methodologies that have been the subject of many books and journal articles; therefore, it is beyond the scope of this book. This type of resistance is very effective, although it can be overcome by the pressure of pathogenic organisms since it depends on interaction of a single elicitor molecule from the pathogen with a single receptor site in the host.

Dr. Tuzun, currently a full professor at Auburn University, is a molecular plant pathologist and pioneer in the field of induced systemic resistance.

Dr. Bent, currently a postdoctoral researcher in the laboratory of Dr. James Borneman at the Unviersity of California – Riverside, is investigating the microbial basis of disease suppression in soil. She has degrees in microbiology and soil science, and has investigated a variety of interactions between plants and microorganisms or microfauna in the rhizosphere.