Chapter 37.2, Problem 1SB

Summary Introduction

To review:

The general and the specific chemical defenses of plants that are activated in response to a particular type of pathogen.

Introduction:

Unlike animals, the plants lack a proper immune system. However, they have evolved interesting mechanisms in order to combat the pathogenic attacks. Plants have the constitutive defense or barriers like bark, waxy coating, spines, hair, and chemicals that are produced in response to the pathogens. The bark and hair are similar to the animal skin. Secondary metabolites like alkaloids are produced in plants to kill the foreign bacterial cells.