S4: Unravelling SA-independent processes during systemic acquired resistance (SAR)

Christiane Gatz & Yuelin Zhang
PhD student: Aswin Nair Anadath Kizhakkaveettil


Pathogen attack does not only elicit local defense responses at the site of infection, but also activates immune responses in uninfected parts of the plant (systemic acquired resistance, SAR). The three redundant transcription factors (TGA2, TGA5 and TGA6) and the interacting transcriptional co-activator NPR1 are required for SAR establishment and for the accumulation of the phytohormone salicylic acid in systemic leaves. It will be investigated whether these regulatory proteins are involved in the synthesis or the perception of the mobile signal that travels from the infected to the systemic leaf.