Exploitation of pattern recognition receptors in plants toward the development of sustainable plant protection procedures

Abstract

Plants are in nature challenged and colonized by a rich diversity of microbes, ranging from pathogens to mutualists.　Plants have evolved an elaborate, multilayered immune system to recognize and manage these plant-infecting microbes.　An important immune layer is provided by pattern recognition receptors （PRRs） that detect microbe- and host damage-associated molecular patterns （MAMPs and DAMPs, respectively） at the cell surfaces.　PRRs have emerged as a promising toolset to confer durable, cost-effective and broad-spectrum disease resistance on crop plants.　Here, we discuss the functional significance of PRRs in plant-microbe interactions and their exploitation to develop a more sustainable setting of agriculture.