Genes Involved in Plant Defense, Softcover reprint of the original 1st ed. 1992 Coll. Plant Gene Research

Many fungi and bacteria that associate with plants are potentially harmful and can cause disease, while others enter into mutually beneficial sym­ bioses. Co-evolution of plants with pathogenic and symbiotic microbes has lead to refined mechanisms of reciprocal recognition, defense and counter­ defense. Genes in both partners determine and regulate these mechanisms. A detailed understanding of these genes provides basic biological insights as well as a starting point for developing novel methods of crop protection against pathogens. This volume deals with defense-related genes of plants and their regulation as well as with the genes of microbes involved in their interaction with plants. Our discussion begins at the level of populations and addresses the complex interaction of plant and microbial genes in multigenic disease resistance and its significance for crop protection as compared to mono­ genic resistance (Chap. 1). Although monogenic disease resistance may have its problems in the practice of crop protection, it is appealing to the experimentalist: in the so-called gene-for-gene systems, single genes in the plant and in the pathogen specify the compatibility or incompatibility of an interaction providing an ideal experimental system for studying events at the molecular level (Chaps. 2 and 4). Good progress has been made in identifying viral, bacterial, and fungal genes important in virulence and host range (Chaps. 3-6). An important aspect of plant-microbe interactions is the exchange of chemical signals. Microbes can respond to chemical signals of plant origin.

Section I Resistance and Susceptibility Genes of Plants.- The Use of Resistance Genes in Breeding: Epidemiological Considerations.- I. Introduction.- II. Current Techniques for Selecting for Disease Resistance.- III. Strategies for Using Resistant Varieties.- IV. New Approaches.- V. Conclusions.- VI. References.- Functional Models to Explain Gene-for-Gene Relationships in Plant—Pathogen Interactions.- I. Introduction.- II. Physiologic Races and Differentials.- III. Genetic Analysis of Gene-for-Gene Relationships.- IV. Gene-for-Gene Interactions Involving Fungal Pathogenic Bacteria.- V. Gene-for-Gene Interactions Involving Fungal Plant Pathogens.- VI. Conclusion.- VII. References.- Section II Virulence and Avirulence Genes of Pathogens.- An Analysis of Host Range Specificity Genes of Rhizobium as a Model System for Virulence Genes in Phytobacteria.- I. Introduction.- II. Genes Required for Plant-Microbe Interactions.- III. Rhizobium as a Useful Model System.- IV. Discussion.- V. References.- Pathogen A virulence Genes and Elicitors of Plant Defense.- I. Introduction.- II. Host Range Determinants.- III. General Elicitors.- IV. Suppressors.- V. Specific Elicitors.- VI. Do Plants Contain Receptors That Recognize Elicitors and Initiate the HR?.- VII. Signal Transduction and Defense Gene Activation.- VIII. Conclusions.- IX. References.- Pathogenicity Determinants in the Smut Fungi of Cereals.- I. Introduction.- II. General Aspects of the Life Cycle of the Smut Fungi-With Emphasis on U. maydis.- III. The Mating Type Loci of U stilago maydis.- IV. Host-Pathogen Interactions in the Smut Fungi.- V. Conclusion.- VI. References.- Identification of Fungal Genes Involved in Plant Pathogenesis and Host Range.- I. Introduction.- II. Transformation of Phytopathogenic Fungi.- III. Gene Cloning Procedures.- IV. Pathogenicity of U stilago maydis.- V. Fungal Penetration of the Plant Cell.- VI. The PDA Gene, a Gene for Pathogenicity and Host Range.- VII. Some Aspects of Further Development in Plant Pathology.- VIII. References.- Section III Perception of Pathogens and Signal Transduction.- Interactions Between Agrobacterium tumefaciens and Its Host Plant Cells.- I. Introduction.- II. An Overview of Crown Gall Tumorigenesis.- III. A Chronology of Tumorigenesis.- IV. References.- Elicitor Recognition and Signal Transduction.- I. Introduction 183.- II. Elicitors and Plant Responses.- III. Perception of Elicitor Stimulus.- IV. Transduction of Elicitor Signal.- V. Regulation of Plant Responses.- VI. Conclusions.- VII. References.- Section IV Plant Genes Induced in the Defense Reaction.- Pathogenesis-related Proteins.- I. Introduction.- II. The Tobacco-TMV System.- III. Alternative Plant Systems.- IV. Conclusions.- V. References.- The Primary Structure of Plant Pathogenesis-related Glucanohydrolases and Their Genes.- I. Introduction.- II. Multiple Isoforms of ß-1,3-Glucanase and Chitinase.- III. Primary Structure.- IV. Genes Encoding Chitinase and ß-1,3-Glucanase.- V. Conclusion.- VI. References.- Characterization and Analysis of Thionin Genes.- I. Introduction.- II. Thionin Types.- III. Biosynthesis and Subcellular Location.- IV. Structure and Chromosomal Location of Thionin Genes.- V. Gene Expression.- VI. Antimicrobial Properties and Other In Vitro Activities of Thionins.- VII. Possible Implication of Thionins in Plant Defense.- VIII. Conclusion and Perspectives.- IX. References.- Regulatory Elements Controlling Developmental and Stress-induced Expression of Phenylpropanoid Genes.- I. Introduction.- II. L-Phenylalanine Ammonia-Lyase (PAL).- III. 4-Coumarate: CoA Ligase (4CL).- IV. Chalcone Synthase (CHS).- V. Perspectives.- VI. References.- Regulation of Lignification in Defense.- I. Introduction.- II. Lignin: Matrix Polymer of a Structural Barrier Against Pathogen Ingress.- III. Regulation of Enzymes in Lignin Biosynthesis.- IV. Cinnamyl-Alcohol Dehydrogenase—a Committed Enzyme.- V. Possible Roles of Lignin Monomers and Polymers in the Structural Barrier.- VI. Perspectives.- VII. References.