Study on Plant Immune Systems May Lead to Better Tomatoes, Rice and Other Crops

Understanding plants' immune systems may just lead to better tomatoes and other plants. Scientists have taken a look at the bacteria that infects plants to learn a bit more about plant immune systems and how to potentially bolster plant defenses.

"Each year, millions of dollars are lost from damage to crops and ornamental plants caused by pathogens, which include a bacteria known as Pseudomonas Syringae," said Antje Heese, one of the researchers, in a news release. "This bacteria directly affects tomatoes and causes speck disease that permanently damage the fruit and leaves. In our study, we used Arabidopsis thaliana, a plant that has the same immune response as tomatoes but grows at a faster rate, to study the immune response of plants."

Scientists once thought that a plant defended itself against bacteria by activating a specific, several-step process. However, it seems as if plants instead activate their immune systems using three separate mechanisms.

In fact, the scientists found that each mechanism responding to the infection did so independently of the two other mechanisms. In addition, each mechanism had to have the right amount of specific proteins, called immune receptors, in the right place in order to respond appropriate. Having the right combination provided the plant with an effective and efficient immune response.

So what does this mean? The findings could allow scientists to create new strategies to help plants fight off disease. This could lead to more resistant crops that could save the agricultural industry millions.

"Like any living organism, plants have limited resources and they have to use these resources effectively," said Heese. "If the plant makes too much of the proteins responsible for these mechanisms, they will suffer in other areas, such as creating quality fruit. This same discovery can be applied to many crops, including rice and soybeans, and ornamental plants, including roses, pear and apple trees. The information discovered in this study gives scientists something new to study in plants, with the eventual goal of better crops and ornamental plants."

The findings are published in the journal PLOS Pathogens.

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