Understanding Host-Pathogen Cross Talks and Strategies for Engineering Plants with Enhanced Resistance- a Review

Abstract:

Despite multiple attempts by breeders to develop resistant cultivars against a wide array of plant pathogenic species, pathogens have often been challenged against host reactions. As a result of the cohabitation of plants and pathogens, stronger communication exists between them. In order to enhance breeding technologies against a wide range of pathogen systems, there is a need to acknowledge the crosstalk between the host and the pathogen. It is inevitable to know the mode of entry of the pathogen into hosts and address the differential approaches to study the host-pathogen communications; thus enhancing the chances of breeding for resistance. The virulence responses are initiated in the host through either innate or adaptive immunity against a wide range of invading virulent pathogens. In this context, we reviewed some of the crosstalk and aspects that should be considered during molecular resistance breeding. One such successful example of resistance breeding is the introgression of R genes against single or multiple pathogen/s.