The Stimulators and Responsive Genes to Induce Systemic Resistance Against Pathogens: An Exclusive Focus on Tomato as a Model Plant

Abstract

Inducing the plant immune system to fight off pathogens is an eco-friendly strategy and needs to be a major component in disease management. Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is regarded as a suitable model plant for studying disease resistance and the underlying mechanisms. A remarkable body of knowledge has been generated in recent years spanning the tripartite interactions between tomato, pathogens, and resistance inducers (e.g. biologic, natural or synthetic products, etc.), suggesting what signaling pathways/molecules are potential targets to be manipulated for improving disease resistance. This review explores diverse types of stimulators in tomatoes, the most responsive genes involved in defense, and future research directions. Among the stimulators, biological stimulators significantly reduce soil-borne pathogens. Transcription of ERF transcription factor gene was significantly suppressed in the innate immune responses induced by PGPRs. It seems regulating the expression of this gene family (de novo resistance) could play critical roles in inducing systemic resistance against diseases of Solanaceae.