Plant peptides are small signaling molecules that help plants defend themselves against diseases and pests. These peptides can work by directly killing pathogens or by activating the plant’s immune system. Researchers have identified over 1000 different plant peptides, and this review explains how they work and how they could be used to create disease-resistant crops and natural biopesticides.
Researchers studied how different spruce trees resist a wood-rotting fungus by examining which genes turn on and off during infection. They found that resistant trees quickly recognize the fungus and strengthen their cell walls, while susceptible trees have delayed responses. Interestingly, different resistant trees sometimes use different defense strategies to achieve similar protection, suggesting multiple genetic pathways can lead to the same outcome.
This research examined how apple trees defend themselves against a serious fungal disease called Valsa canker caused by Cytospora mali. Scientists used advanced genetic and chemical analysis techniques to identify which genes and protective compounds are activated when apple branches are infected. They found that healthy apple trees fight the infection by strengthening their cell walls, producing special protective enzymes, and accumulating defense chemicals like α-linolenic acid and betaine. These discoveries could help develop better ways to prevent or manage this destructive disease in apple orchards.