Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2013, 14(4), 6960-6980; doi:10.3390/ijms14046960
Impact of Cell Wall Composition on Maize Resistance to Pests and Diseases
Misión Biológica de Galicia (CSIC), Pontevedra E-36080, Spain
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Current address: Department of Plant Physiology, Ume
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Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Received: 18 February 2013 / Revised: 19 March 2013 / Accepted: 20 March 2013 / Published: 27 March 2013
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Abiotic and Biotic Stress Tolerance Mechanisms in Plants)
Abstract
In cereals, the primary cell wall is built of a skeleton of cellulosic microfibrils embedded in a matrix of hemicelluloses and smaller amounts of pectins, glycoproteins and hydroxycinnamates. Later, during secondary wall development, p-coumaryl, coniferyl and sinapyl alcohols are copolymerized to form mixed lignins. Several of these cell wall components show a determinative role in maize resistance to pest and diseases. However, defense mechanisms are very complex and vary among the same plant species, different tissues or even the same tissue at different developmental stages. Thus, it is important to highlight that the role of the cell wall components needs to be tested in diverse genotypes and specific tissues where the feeding or attacking by the pathogen takes place. Understanding the role of cell wall constituents as defense mechanisms may allow modifications of crops to withstand pests and diseases. View Full-TextKeywords:
maize (Zea mays L.); pests and diseases; cell wall; cellulose; arabinoxylans; hydroxycinnamates; lignin; ferulic acid; borer; maize weevil; ear and stalk rot; rust; leaf blight
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Santiago, R.; Barros-Rios, J.; Malvar, R.A. Impact of Cell Wall Composition on Maize Resistance to Pests and Diseases. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2013, 14, 6960-6980.
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