How plants sense wounds: damaged-self recognition is based on plant-derived elicitors and induces octadecanoid signaling.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Animal-derived elicitors can be used by plants to detect herbivory but they function only in specific insect-plant interactions. How can plants generally perceive damage caused by herbivores? Damaged-self recognition occurs when plants perceive molecular signals of damage: degraded plant molecules or molecules localized outside their original compartment.

Methodology/principal findings

Flame wounding or applying leaf extract or solutions of sucrose or ATP to slightly wounded lima bean (Phaseolus lunatus) leaves induced the secretion of extrafloral nectar, an indirect defense mechanism. Chemically related molecules that would not be released in high concentrations from damaged plant cells (glucose, fructose, salt, and sorbitol) did not elicit a detectable response,

SUBMITTER: Heil M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3276496 | biostudies-literature | 2012

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature