Chemical and Physical Defences

• Plants have a cuticle and cell wall that can help defend against pathogens (they are always present and non-specific)
• What is a cuticle?

  A protective layer on the outside of leaves that is made of molecules of wax and fat

  • Stops pathogens from getting in and water from moving in and out
• What is a cell wall?

  A barrier to pathogens entering the cell
• Plants don’t have white blood cells (WBC’s) or an immune system.
• Plants don’t make anti-microbial substances in response to an infection