Resistance induction in crop plants against insect herbivores and pathogens by elicitors

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 entral Agric. Pesticide Laboratory, Agricultural Research Center, Dokki, Giza, Egypt

2 Pesticide Chemistry Dept., Fac. of Agric., Alexandria University, El-Shatby, Alexandria, Egypt

10.21608/jpces.2009.459541

Abstract

Crop plants, during their life cycle, can protect themselves against the attack of arthropod herbivores and pathogens with various resistance mechanisms. The jasmonate and salicylate signaling pathways are two inducible defense responses that can protect plants against these multiple pests by the production and synthesis of a number of phytochemicals and defensive proteins such as proteinase inhibitor proteins, polyphenol oxidas and steroid glycoalkaloids as well as pathogenesis-related proteins (PR- proteins) and phytoalexins that target physiological processes in the attacking organisms. Secondary metabolites produced by plants in response to induction by biotic or abiotic elicitors also include volatile organic compounds that attract natural enemies of insect herbivores. Research: efforts in the area of inducible plant resistance is now being developed concerning the use of induced plant genes for insect herbivory and pathogen resistance and the potential of using induced resistance (IR) or systemic acquired resistance (SAR) as environmentally safe methods of insect and disease pest control, respectively. This paper views this research as a body to fully utilize the information in formulating future development of plant protection products and farming practices that can assist growers in controlling arthropod herbivores and pathogen attack on high cash value plant crops. The integration of induced host plant resistance and semiochemical approaches with other methods of pest management would be accepted as compatible with integrated pest management system in conventional agriculture as well as with organic farming practices.

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