How corn plants defend against pathogen attack - The Hindu

How corn plants defend against pathogen attack - The Hindu: "Researchers from the North Carolina State University have identified crucial genes and cellular processes that appear to control the so-called hyper-sensitive defence response (HR) in corn.

The findings could help researchers build better defence responses in corn and other plants.

“It is similar to a human having an auto-immune response that never stops,” said Peter Balint-Kurti, a professor from the department of plant pathology and crop science at the North Carolina State University.

When corn plants come under attack from a pathogen, they sometimes respond by killing their own cells near the site of the attack, committing “cell suicide” to thwart further damage from the attacker.

It has so far been difficult to understand how the plant regulates this defence mechanism because the response is so quick and localised."



'via Blog this'