AUTHOR=Birkenbihl Rainer P., Somssich Imre E. TITLE=Transcriptional Plant Responses Critical for Resistance Towards Necrotrophic Pathogens JOURNAL=Frontiers in Plant Science VOLUME=2 YEAR=2011 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/plant-science/articles/10.3389/fpls.2011.00076 DOI=10.3389/fpls.2011.00076 ISSN=1664-462X ABSTRACT=

Plant defenses aimed at necrotrophic pathogens appear to be genetically complex. Despite the apparent lack of a specific recognition of such necrotrophs by products of major R genes, biochemical, molecular, and genetic studies, in particular using the model plant Arabidopsis, have uncovered numerous host components critical for the outcome of such interactions. Although the JA signaling pathway plays a central role in plant defense toward necrotrophs additional signaling pathways contribute to the plant response network. Transcriptional reprogramming is a vital part of the host defense machinery and several key regulators have recently been identified. Some of these transcription factors positively affect plant resistance whereas others play a role in enhancing host susceptibility toward these phytopathogens.