Discover the fascinating evolutionary battle between plants and microbes hidden beneath the surface of a freshwater pond. Explore how these unseen combatants use hormones, stomata, and other strategies to gain the upper hand in this never-ending struggle for survival.
The Microbiome: Unseen Friend and Foe Of Plants
As we heard in my previous post, plants rely on their surrounding community of bacteria, fungi, viruses and other microbes (i.e., their microbiome) more than you may think. This microbiome is typically species-specific and geo-localised on a plant.
Although some of these microbes are rather beneficial for the plant, there are pathogenic microbes as well that should be neutralized from the point of view of the host plant. Learning how plants fight back (or not) also could allow scientists to tailor microbiomes that favor bioenergy crops as well as productive agriculture.
Stomata: Plant Security Guard
The stomata — the little pores on the leaves, stems, flowers and roots that open and close to take up carbon dioxide and respire oxygen and water — stand as one of the plant’s early barricades against pathogens. It… forms these stomata, which function like gates to a city — shutting the doors on bacterial invaders.
In plants, hormones will dictate whether the guard cells retain the stomata sealed or relaxed. But some bacteria have slipped through the cracks, exploiting the guard cell induced defense to enter into plants. This pushing-and-pulling game of evolution between plants and microbes provides a fascinating example of nature’s endless battle for survival.
Conclusion
Plants continuously evolve traits to protect themselves while microbes innovate new ways of overcoming the plant defense. By understanding the intricate relationships plants have with their microbial partners, scientists can discover new ways to enhance crop productivity and fend off disease-causing pathogens while building more sustainable farming practices.
