Transcription factors, potential regulatory targets in fruit defense responses to pathogens

Abstract

Transcription factors (TFs) have important regulatory roles in processes such as plant growth, development, ripening and defense responses to adversity. In recent years, an increasing number of studies have shown that various TFs contribute to the resistance to biotic stress in fruits. On the one hand, TFs regulate immune levels by directly binding to plant defense gene promoters to activate or repress their expression. On the other hand, TFs are involved in the biosynthesis and signal transduction pathways of phytohormones, such as SA (salicylic acid) and JA (jasmonic acid), and regulate plant tolerance to pathogens in a hormone-mediated manner. In this process, TFs may exhibit synergistic or antagonistic effects among themselves. In this review, we summarized the TFs involved in the fruit defense response, mainly focusing on the biosynthesis and signaling of plant defense hormones, the synthesis of PR proteins, the production of phytoalexins, and the formation of physical barriers.