Editorial: Systemic resistance and defense priming against pathogens

Abstract

Plant diseases pose significant challenges to global agriculture, threatening food security and economic stability. In response to pathogen attacks, plants have evolved a notable immune program(s) known as systemic resistance and the associated defense priming event (Ryals et al., 1996; Conrath, 2011; De Kesel et al., 2021). This phenomenon involves the activation of long-lasting and broad-spectrum disease resistance, which is usually characterized by the plant’s ability to exhibit “immunological memory” and mount a rapid and efficient response upon recurring infections (Martinez-Medina et al., 2016; Sharrock and Sun, 2020). Thus, manipulation of the acquired resistance is a worthy strategy for protecting plants from pathogen infection. To aim it, understanding the mechanisms and signals underlying systemic resistance and defense priming event is crucial for developing sustainable and high-yielding agricultural practices.