Abstract
In land plants the cuticle is the outermost layer interacting with the environment. This lipophilic layer comprises the polyester cutin embedded in cuticular wax; and it forms a physical barrier to protect plants from desiccation as well as from diverse biotic and abiotic stresses. However, the cuticle is not merely a passive, mechanical shield. The increasing research on plant leaves has addressed the active roles of the plant cuticle in both local and systemic resistance against a variety of plant pathogens. Moreover, the fruit cuticle also serves as an important determinant of fruit defense and quality. It shares features with those of vegetative organs, but also exhibits specific characteristics, the functions of which gain increasing attention in recent years. This review describes multiple roles of plant cuticle during plant-pathogen interactions and its responses to both leaf and fruit pathogens. These include the dynamic changes of plant cuticle during pathogen infection; the crosstalk of cuticle with plant cell wall and diverse hormone signaling pathways for plant disease resistance; and the major biochemical, molecular, and cellular mechanisms that underlie the roles of cuticle during plant-pathogen interactions. Although research developments in the field have greatly advanced our understanding of the roles of plant cuticle in plant defense, there still remain large gaps in our knowledge. Therefore, the challenges thus presented, and future directions of research also are discussed in this review.
Highlights
Plant cuticle is the outermost layer of plants, which covers leaves, fruits, flowers, and non-woody stems of higher plants
This review briefly summarizes the multifunctional roles of plant cuticle during plant-pathogen interactions, with emphasis on: dynamic changes of plant cuticle and their regulation; the crosstalk of cuticle with cell wall and diverse hormone signaling pathways for plant defense; and major biochemical, molecular, and cellular mechanisms that underlie the roles of cuticle during plant-pathogen interactions
Several mechanisms may account for the increased leaf resistance to B. cinerea and other pathogens when plant cuticle permeability increases: (1) Release of certain cutin monomers or wax components that function as signals to activate plant disease resistance (Aragón et al, 2017); (2) Release of antifungal diffusates and ROS that inhibit pathogen growth and infection at the surface (L’Haridon et al, 2011; Sela et al, 2013); (3) Accelerated uptake of elicitors (e.g., MAMPs/PAMPs/DAMPs) activated by pathogens for PTI; and release of avirulent effectors for effector-triggered immunity (ETI), which could stimulate a stronger and more efficient plant-defense response (Chassot et al, 2008; Aragón et al, 2017)
Summary
Plant cuticle is the outermost layer of plants, which covers leaves, fruits, flowers, and non-woody stems of higher plants. During pathogen infection on susceptible plant hosts, the enhancement of specific cuticle properties, such as permeability, might lead to reduced levels of certain cutin monomers and/or wax components that could repress the virulence and pathogenicity of pathogens and their effectors.
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