473 / 2019-02-27 20:18:59

Insight into molecular basis of jasmonate action in plant defense against herbivory

Jasmonate，Plant defense

Plant Hormones > Plant Hormones

Plants face constant threats from a multitude of pests, which cause severe agricultural loss. During the long-term coevolution, sessile plants have evolved complicated and sophisticated defense systems to defend against attacks from herbivory insects. The lipid-derived plant hormone jasmonate (JA) plays a vital role in regulating plant defensive responses against insects. The endogenous bioactive JA is maintained at a low level in healthy plants, but accumulates to a relatively high level upon wounding or insect feeding. When fed by insects or upon mechanical wounding, plants rapidly accumulate JA, which subsequently triggers large-scale transcriptional reprogramming of many defense-related genes and modulates the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites either toxic/repellent to the herbivores. We will discuss recent progress in understanding the molecular basis of activating jasmonate biosynthesis for plant defense against insects.