Defense priming, a state of alert

Plants nurture a vast community of mutualistic microbes that in analogy to microbial communities in the human gut, provides their host with essential functions related to nutrient acquisition and protection against infections. Last research is showing that these mutualistic microbes, which are mostly associated with plant roots, can enhance plant’s natural immune system. This phenomenon is known as defence priming and shows an analogy to how children are vaccinated to protect them against future diseases. Defense priming by root mutualistic microbes creates a “state of alert” in the plant allowing the plant to react faster and stronger when facing an attacker as a microbial pathogen or an insect herbivore. Scientists from 27 European countries are working together in the frame of the COST Action FA1405 with the aim of making use of these mutualistic microbes to “immunise” plants against pathogens and pests. This method of priming plants’ immune systems by natural mutualistic microbes represent a promising contribution to sustainable pest management strategies in the emerging “second green revolution”.