Plant immunity and plant defense

This chapter summarizes the current knowledge on how plants defend against pathogen invasion and proliferation by structural and biochemical defense measures. To this end, it recapitulates the genetic basis of plant immunity and susceptibility to diseases. It distinguishes preformed defense barriers from pathogen-induced defense measures and discusses some biochemical mechanisms of pathogen restriction. It further shows how plants detect invading pathogens via direct recognition of pathogen-derived molecules or via monitoring the integrity of plant structures and functions. It highlights early events during signal transduction and host cell reprogramming for pathogen defense. The chapter explains defense reactions at the molecular, cellular, tissue, and whole plant level and describes examples of how pathogens trick plants into successful pathogenesis.