CONICET | Buscador de Institutos y Recursos Humanos

Early in infection, pathogens must surmount the outer rigid wall of plant cells. Because cell wall hydrolases are well-known components of pathogen virulence, it has been assumed that the plants own cell wall disassembly might contribute to pathogen susceptibility and now this has been established experimentally. Understanding the relationship between plant cell wall morphological and developmental remodeling and pathogen virulence provides new information about plant-pathogen interactions. While the plant cell wall can be an effective barrier to pathogens, it also can be a Trojan horse in which functions for pathogen perception are embedded. By breaching the wall, a pathogen potentially reveals itself to the plant and activates pathogen responses, setting off events that may halt or limit its advance.