DEF2DEV · Identification of the mode of action of plant defensins during root development and plant defense responses.

Identification of the mode of action of plant defensins during root development and plant defense responses.

Fungal plant pathogens are a major threat to food production worldwide. For example the necrotrophic fungal pathogen Botrytis cinerea can infect over 200 plant species, causing grey mould disease, leading to annual losses of up to $100 billion. Plant defensins (PDFs) constitute a unique class of highly stable antimicrobial peptides and are found throughout the whole plant kingdom. They were originally isolated in the host lab based on their antifungal activity and are regarded as being an important part in plant innate immunity responses directed against fungal pathogens. The antifungal mode of action of PDFs is partly regulated through interaction with a fungal membrane target, such as phospholipids and sphingolipids. Data indicate that their role is not restricted to antimicrobial peptides in the defense response, but also includes important biological functions, such as root development, nodule formation and reproduction. Surprisingly, despite the broad international interest in plant defensins, their mode of action in plant defense responses is still unclear as well as their possible involvement in (other) biological functions. The project aimed to unravel the biological function and mode of action of the plant defensin AtPDF2.3 and its closest homologue AtPDF2.2. The overall objectives were to find more insights and answers about their mode of action and biological functions, being: (1) their role during root development, (2) their role during plant defense (3) their mode of action in plants and (4) their antifungal mode of action. The studies in the model plant A. thaliana offer the opportunity to understand both the molecular and physiological mechanism involved in responses of plants to biotic stress. The knowledge obtained will be useful for improving tolerance through genetic engineering and breeding. The envisioned long term goal of this project is to identify novel strategies to cope with biotic stress and regulation of root architecture to be applied on important agricultural crops.

Data: CORDIS, © European Union