When a pathogen reproduces, it synthesizes both essential and non-essential molecules.  Genes important for the production of molecules that are not as important can easily be mutated without much difference to the function or survival of the pathogen. However, genes important for the production of essential molecules are duplicated very carefully, and any mutations in these can be lethal to the survival of the pathogen.

Plants posses “pattern recognition receptors” (PRR’s) at part of their innate immune response system. PRR’s recognize the essential molecules in pathogens and aid the plant in destroying the invader. Until now, little research has been done in determining all the different PRR’s present among plants. Recently, however, Dr. Cyril Zipfel and his team at the Sainsbury Laboratory in Norwich, UK identified one specific PRR and used it to successfully confer broad-spectrum bacterial resistance in plants.

The team isolated a Brassica-specific PRR that recognizes bacteria and transformed it into tomato and Nicotania benthaminia plants.  When the transformed plants were tested under the influence of various pathogens, their resistance was significantly better than plants without the PRR gene. This transformation was crucial because it was conducted among plants from different families, showing the potential for conferring resistance to economically significant pathogens in the agricultural industry.

This study may lead to the recognition of other PRR’s and decrease in pesticide and fungicide use, with a potential to improve agricultural yields considerably. As an implication of this study, scientists have already started testing the transformation on plants such as apples, potatoes, and bananas.

Discussion question: What could be a potential negative impact of having all the same PRR’s among all plants?

News Article: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/03/100314150912.htm
Journal Article: http://www.nature.com/nbt/journal/v28/n4/abs/nbt.1613.html#/