Plant Immune Response Discovery Could Reduce Pesticide Use

Researchers at the University of Jena, Germany, have uncovered a universal mechanism in plant immune responses that could lead to the development of more resistant crops and reduce the need for pesticides. The team, led by Dr. Alexandra Furch, identified two distinct types of electrical waves plants use to trigger both local and systemic defenses against bacterial attacks. The study, published in Science Advances, details how plants like Arabidopsis thaliana and Vicia faba transmit signals from the site of bacterial contact via chemical and electrical signals. These signals trigger the release of calcium ions, initiating a chain reaction. The team discovered fast-moving action potentials and slower variation potentials, each triggering different responses. The slower potentials cause closure proteins to temporarily block vascular pathways, while the faster action potentials activate the plant's systemic immune defenses, increasing the production of jasmonate and reactive oxygen species. This discovery could enable the development of crops with enhanced natural resistance, reducing reliance on chemical pesticides, especially as climate change leads to the emergence of new plant pathogens.