Update on Cuticular Wax Biosynthesis and Its Roles in Plant Disease Resistance

Overview

Journal Int J Mol Sci

Publisher MDPI

Specialties Biochemistry
Chemistry
Molecular Biology

Date 2020 Aug 6

PMID 32752176

Citations 34

Authors

Xiaoyu Wang

Lingyao Kong

Pengfei Zhi

Cheng Chang

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The aerial surface of higher plants is covered by a hydrophobic layer of cuticular waxes to protect plant tissues against enormous environmental challenges including the infection of various pathogens. As the first contact site between plants and pathogens, the layer of cuticular waxes could function as a plant physical barrier that limits the entry of pathogens, acts as a reservoir of signals to trigger plant defense responses, and even gives cues exploited by pathogens to initiate their infection processes. Past decades have seen unprecedented proceedings in understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying the biosynthesis of plant cuticular waxes and their functions regulating plant-pathogen interactions. In this review, we summarized the recent progress in the molecular biology of cuticular wax biosynthesis and highlighted its multiple roles in plant disease resistance against bacterial, fungal, and insect pathogens.

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