Molecular basis of jasmonate-regulated plant defense
D. XIE (1) (1) Tsinghua University, China

Higher plants live in fixed places and often encounter environmental stresses, such as attack from insects and pathogens, during their life cycle. In addition to constitutive physical and chemical strategies, plants have developed a powerful inducible defense system to defend against a diversity of attackers. The plant defense system depends largely on the inducible expression of a vast array of defense genes. The expression of many frontline defense response genes is controlled by jasmonates (JA). Jasmonates, including jasmonic acid and its cyclopentanone derivatives, are a class of plant hormones which have emerged as a vital defense signal to regulate plant response against abiotic and biotic stresses, such as ozone exposure, drought, wounding, herbivorous insects and necrotrophic pathogens. JA also acts as an important growth regulator to mediate diverse aspects of plant developmental processes, including plant fertility, root growth, trichome formation and leaf senescence, and regulates secondary metabolism, such as anthocyanin accumulation and glucosinolate biosynthesis and sesquiterpene accumulation. We have used molecular, genetic and biochemical approaches to dissect the jasmonate signal transduction pathway. Molecular basis for jasmonate action in regulation of plant defense and development will be discussed.

Abstract Number: C12-2
Session Type: Concurrent