Plant defense

Plant defense comprises physical, chemical, and ecological mechanisms that reduce damage from herbivores, pathogens, and competing plants.

Plant immune system: The receptors and signaling networks plants use to recognize and resist pathogens and pests. It coordinates many defenses after detecting a threat.
Plant cell wall: A rigid extracellular layer surrounding plant cells, composed mainly of cellulose, hemicellulose, and pectin. It forms a structural barrier that many pathogens must breach.
Plant breeding: The purposeful selection and crossing of plants to produce useful inherited traits. Breeders select crop varieties with stronger or more durable resistance.
Constitutive defense: A defense present in an organism before a particular attack occurs. It contrasts with defenses activated only after a threat is detected.
Plant–herbivore interaction: An ecological interaction in which an animal consumes plant tissue or plant products. Plant defenses alter herbivore feeding and the intensity of this interaction.
Pattern-triggered immunity: An immune response activated when plant receptors recognize conserved molecules associated with microbes. It shows how pathogen detection can activate broad protective responses.
Plant pattern recognition receptor: A plant receptor that detects conserved microbial molecules or signs of cellular damage. These receptors provide an early warning system for infection.
Bt crops: Genetically engineered crops that produce insecticidal proteins derived from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis. They deploy a microbial insect-killing protein as a crop defense.
Induced defense: A defense whose production or activity increases in response to a threat or environmental cue. It can be deployed selectively rather than maintained continuously.
Plant–pathogen interaction: An interaction between a plant and a disease-causing microorganism, shaped by infection and host responses. Defense can determine whether infection develops into disease.

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