Mod7 - T2 Matrix

• Innate immune response


  The only type of immune response plants have to protect themselves from pathogens
• Hypersensitive response


  • Detects pathogens and kills the infected cells through apoptosis
• Physical defences


  • Protect the plant from predation by insects or large herbivores
• Physical defences


  • Trichomes (spines) found on plants such as the Gympie Gympie Tree of Queensland
• Leaf dropping


  • A mechanism to eliminate pathogens
  • Nutrients are resorbed from the leaf
  • A protective layer of lignin forms at the site of leaf detachment
  • Cells at the detachment site are digested by enzymes to cause leaf dropping
• Defensive chemicals


  • Plants can produce specific defensive chemicals such as caffeine which is toxic to fungi and insects
• Pathogen detection and immune response

  1. If a pathogen defeats the plant's physical defences and enters the cell, it can be detected by Pattern Recognition Receptors (PRR)

  2. This triggers an immune response leading to thickening of the cell wall to prevent further spread