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The effects of biotic stress on the sexual reproduction process of flowering plants

Summary

When plants get sick from fungal, bacterial, or viral infections or are eaten by insects and parasites, their ability to produce flowers, seeds, and fruits is severely affected. Different pathogens use different tricks to damage reproduction—some speed up flowering to take advantage of the plant quickly, while others slow it down or destroy floral structures directly. Understanding how these pathogens attack plant reproduction helps farmers protect their crops and maintain food production.

Background

Sexual reproduction in flowering plants is a complex and vulnerable process encompassing floral induction, organ morphogenesis, fertilization, and seed maturation. While both biotic and abiotic stresses significantly impact plant reproduction, comprehensive reviews on biotic stress effects remain limited compared to abiotic stress research.

Objective

This review synthesizes current knowledge on how biotic stressors including fungi, bacteria, viruses, parasitic plants, and herbivorous animals affect the sexual reproduction process of flowering plants. The review aims to elucidate the underlying mechanisms through representative case studies across multiple stress types.

Results

The review documents multiple mechanisms by which biotic stressors affect flowering time, floral organ development, pollen viability, and seed development. Fungal pathogens may accelerate or delay flowering through modulation of key regulatory genes like FLC, FT, and GA pathway components, while viruses impair pollen germination and tube growth. Bacterial pathogens cause flower withering through direct infection pathways.

Conclusion

Biotic stresses have multifaceted impacts on plant sexual reproduction through distinct molecular and physiological mechanisms depending on the pathogen type and infection site. Understanding these interactions is crucial for developing strategies to maintain crop productivity and plant reproduction under pathogenic pressure.
  • Published in:PeerJ,
  • Study Type:Review,
  • Source: 10.7717/peerj.19880, PMID: 40821982
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