Role Of Plant Cell Components In Defending Against Stress

Abstract

Plants are frequently exposed to various environmental stresses, including extreme temperatures, drought, and attacks by pests and diseases. In their natural habitats, plants encounter numerous antagonists and have therefore evolved a wide range of defense mechanisms to cope with both biotic and abiotic stresses. These defense strategies are multifaceted, with cellular organelles playing a crucial role. For example, trichomes, which serve as mechanical barriers, form the frontline of the plant's defense system. Active defense mechanisms are particularly important in the context of plant diseases, where the host plant may be damaged by a pathogen. These mechanisms include properties of the host that reduce the extent of damage. Passive defense mechanisms are independent of the pathogen, while active mechanisms are triggered by changes in the host induced by the pathogen. For instance, pre-existing lignified cell walls in higher plants act as a passive defense against fungal pathogens by restricting fungal growth. Conversely, cell walls that become lignified in response to pathogen attack represent an active defense mechanism if this response reduces damage.