Generalist insects behave in a jasmonate-dependent manner on their host plants, leaving induced areas quickly and staying longer on distant parts.

Plants are sessile, so have evolved sensitive ways to detect attacking herbivores and sophisticated strategies to effectively defend themselves. Insect herbivory induces synthesis of the phytohormone jasmonic acid which activates downstream metabolic pathways for various chemical defences such as toxins and digestion inhibitors. Insects are also sophisticated animals, and many have coevolved physiological adaptations that negate this induced plant defence.

Genetic dissection of basal resistance to Pseudomonas syringae pv. phaseolicola in accessions of Arabidopsis.

We have examined the genetics of nonhost resistance in Arabidopsis, using the bean pathogen Pseudomonas syringae pv. phaseolicola race 6 1448A to probe accessions for natural variation in basal defense. Symptoms rarely developed in leaves of Niedersenz (Nd), some yellowing and occasional necrosis developed in Columbia (Col), whereas tissue collapse was observed in Wassilewskija (Ws) after inoculation by infiltration.

Plant pattern-recognition receptor FLS2 is directed for degradation by the bacterial ubiquitin ligase AvrPtoB.

Background: An important layer of active defense in plant immunity is the detection of pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) mediated by cell-surface receptors. For the establishment of disease, pathogens depend on the ability to overcome PAMP perception and disable plant signaling pathways activated in response to PAMPs. Pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) are therefore prime targets for pathogen effectors.

Pseudomonas syringae effector AvrPtoB suppresses basal defence in Arabidopsis.

The virulence and avirulence activities of members of the Pseudomonas syringae HopAB family of effectors and AvrPto were examined in bean, tomato and Arabidopsis. Proteins were delivered by the RW60 strain of P. syringae pv.

Expression profiling of the host response to bacterial infection: the transition from basal to induced defence responses in RPM1-mediated resistance.

Changes in transcription in leaves of Arabidopsis thaliana were characterised following challenge with strains of Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000 allowing differentiation of basal resistance (hrpA mutants), gene-specific resistance (RPM1-specified interactions) and susceptibility (wild-type pathogen). In planta avirulence gene induction, changes in host [Ca2+]cyt and leaf collapse were used to delineate the transition from infection to induced resistance.