Cytokinins and plant immunity: old foes or new friends?

Abstract

Cytokinins are plant growth promoting hormones involved in the specification of embryonic cells, maintenance of meristematic cells, shoot formation and development of vasculature. Cytokinins have also emerged as a major factor in plant-microbe interactions during nodule organogenesis and pathogenesis. Microbe-originated cytokinins confer abnormal hypersensitivity of cytokinins to plants, augmenting the sink activity of infected regions. However, recent findings have shed light on a distinct role of cytokinins in plant immune responses. Plant-borne cytokinins systemically induce resistance against pathogen infection. This resistance is orchestrated by endogenous cytokinin and salicylic acid signaling. Here, we discuss how plant- and pathogen-derived cytokinins inversely affect the plant defense response. In addition, we consider the molecular mechanisms underlying plant-derived cytokinin action in plant immunity.

• Authors: Jaemyung Choi, Daeseok Choi, Seungchul Lee, Choong-Min Ryu, Ildoo Hwang
• Journal: Trends in plant science (Trends Plant Sci) Vol. 16 Issue 7 Pg. 388-94 (Jul 2011) ISSN: 1878-4372 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 21470894 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Review)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Cytokinins
• Plant Growth Regulators
• Salicylic Acid

Topics

• Cytokinins (immunology, metabolism)
• Plant Growth Regulators (immunology, metabolism)
• Plant Immunity
• Plant Physiological Phenomena
• Plants (immunology, metabolism, microbiology)
• Salicylic Acid (metabolism)
• Signal Transduction