L40 Plants and Pathogens

These flashcards cover key terms and concepts related to plant pathogens and plant defense mechanisms discussed in the lecture notes.

Biotic factors

Organisms such as diseases, pests, and weeds that negatively impact crop yields.

Phytophthora ramorum

A fungus-like pathogen responsible for significant damage to trees, such as larches in Wentwood Forest.

Acute Oak Decline

A bacterial disease transmitted by beetle larvae that affects oak trees.

Pseudomonas syringae

A widespread bacterial pathogen responsible for crop losses in various plants, including tomatoes and kiwifruit.

Resistance (R) genes

Genes that confer resistance to plants against specific pathogens, allowing plants to mount defense responses.

Gene-For-Gene Hypothesis

The theory stating that mutual presence of specific genes in both host and pathogen is crucial for resistance to occur.

Systemic Acquired Resistance (SAR)

A plant defense mechanism activated by pathogen attacks that provides long-lasting protection against a wide range of pathogens.

Type III secretion system (T3SS)

A mechanism used by many bacterial pathogens to inject effector proteins into host cells.

Pathogen Associated Molecular Patterns (PAMPs)

Molecules associated with pathogens that are recognized by plant immune systems and trigger defense responses.

Resistance-breaking strain

A variant of a pathogen that has evolved to overcome the resistance conferred by Resistance genes in plants.