Chemical Signaling Between Plants and Plant-Pathogenic Bacteria

• Published in: Annual review of phytopathology Vol. 51; no. 1; pp. 17 - 37
• Main Authors: VENTURI, Vittorio, FUQUA, Clay
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Palo Alto, CA Annual Reviews 01-01-2013
• Subjects: Bacteria - chemistry; Bacteria - pathogenicity; Bacterial plant pathogens; Bacterial Proteins - metabolism; Biological and medical sciences; Diketopiperazines - metabolism; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; Host-Pathogen Interactions; Lactones - metabolism; Phenols - metabolism; Phytopathology. Animal pests. Plant and forest protection; Plant Diseases - immunology; Plant Diseases - microbiology; Plants - chemistry; Plants - immunology; Plants - microbiology; Quorum Sensing; Repressor Proteins - metabolism; Signal Transduction; Trans-Activators - metabolism; Virulence; acylhomoserine lactones; Chemical communication; Microorganism interrelationships; Plant pathology; diketopiperazines; plant-bacteria interactions; Plant pathogen; interkingdom signaling; Lactone; Review; agrobacterium plant signaling; Communication process; Chemistry; Agrobacterium; Phenols; Bacteria; Prokaryote; Quorum sensing; Microorganism; Rhizobiaceae; Gram negative bacteria; Organic compounds; Plant microorganism relation; plant phenolic compounds
• ISSN: 0066-4286; 1545-2107
• DOI: 10.1146/annurev-phyto-082712-102239

Studies of chemical signaling between plants and bacteria in the past have been largely confined to two models: the rhizobial-legume symbiotic association and pathogenesis between agrobacteria and their host plants. Recent studies are beginning to provide evidence that many plant-associated bacteria undergo chemical signaling with the plant host via low-molecular-weight compounds. Plant-produced compounds interact with bacterial regulatory proteins that then affect gene expression. Similarly, bacterial quorum-sensing signals result in a range of functional responses in plants. This review attempts to highlight current knowledge in chemical signaling that takes place between pathogenic bacteria and plants. This chemical communication between plant and bacteria, also referred to as interkingdom signaling, will likely become a major research field in the future, as it allows the design of specific strategies to create plants that are resistant to plant pathogens.