Frontiers in Science Lead Article
Published on 15 Oct 2024
Enabling sustainable crop protection with induced resistance in plants
Frontiers in Science
doi 10.3389/fsci.2024.1407410
Main Content
Lead article
For all readers
EXPLAINER
Published on 15 Oct 2024
Induced resistance in plants: a strategy for more sustainable agriculture
A summary of the lead article in a Q&A format, with an infographic and video.
Frontiers for Young Minds
Published on 11 Mar 2024
How Certain Soil Bacteria Can Help Plants Grow Better
An article on how soil bacteria can help plants grow better, written for—and peer reviewed by—kids aged 8-15 years.
Key points
Sustainable crop protection methods, such as induced resistance (IR), are being harnessed as an alternative to the excessive use of pesticides, which can lead to increased pest resistance to pesticides and harm humans, animals, and the environment.
Induced resistance can offer long-lasting protection to help the agricultural system mitigate the challenges posed by climate change, the emergence of new diseases, and a rapidly changing socioeconomic context.
Induced resistance is not only active in plant defense but can also be exploited to improve the nutritional quality and health benefits of crop products.
Maximizing the benefits of induced resistance will require a better understanding of plant biology interactions (including the epigenetic regulation of plant defenses), IR stimuli, and the environment.
Legislative action is important to ensure the quality and effectiveness of IR products and promote their wider adoption by farmers.
Expert insights
ARTICLE EVENT
Discussion with the article authors
Join a complimentary virtual symposium on induced resistance in plants.
Date & time: 5 December 2024 at 16:00 CET
Frontiers in Science Editorial
Published on 15 Oct 2024
Mobilizing induced resistance for sustainable crop production
Prof Nicole M. van Dam, Leibniz Institute for Vegetable and Ornamental Crops, Germany, argues that field studies, stakeholder collaborations, and updated legal frameworks can improve the transferability, economic viability, and consumer acceptance of induced resistance.
Frontiers in Science Viewpoint
Published on 15 Oct 2024
Induced resistance: making the most of plants’ innate immune response
Drs Axel Mithöfer and Alexandra Furch, Max Planck Institute and Friedrich-Schiller-University, Germany, emphasize that “priming” plants to react quickly to stresses, combined with other strategies, could be a safe, effective approach to crop protection.
Frontiers in Science Viewpoint
Published on 15 Oct 2024
Harnessing inherent immune defenses of crops for sustainable pest management
Prof Jyoti Shah, University of North Texas, USA, outlines how leveraging plants’ resistance and susceptibility genes along with induced resistance mechanisms can boost crop protection and limit economic losses while reducing pesticide reliance.
POLICY OUTLOOK
Published on 15 Oct 2024
Bridging plant health policy implementation gaps
Dr Osama El-Lissy, formerly of the Food and Agriculture Organization, Italy, asserts that integrating science, technology, and a skilled workforce can close plant health policy gaps—enhancing food security, human and environmental health, and economic growth.
News
PRESS RELEASE
Published on 15 Oct 2024
How ‘vaccinating’ plants could reduce pesticide use and secure global food supplies
Induced resistance, where plants’ immune systems are activated in a controlled way that prepares them to fight pests and disease, could help build a sustainable and resilient agricultural system.
THE NATIONAL
Published on 15 Oct 2024
Plant vaccines could secure global food supplies and beat climate hazards
Researchers writing in Frontiers in Science said induced resistance could prepare plants to fight pests and disease, and help build a sustainable and resilient agricultural system.