Cell Walls in Plant-Microorganism Associations

Abstract

In this review the surface structures of plants and microorganisms are briefly compared, the role of plant walls in recognition and communication events in pathogenesis and the changes occurring in walls as part of the plant's defence mechanisms are considered. Pathogenesis-related proteins with hydrolytic action on pathogen walls and the callose response are briefly discussed. Finally, wall-related phenomena in non-pathogenic associations between plants and microbial symbionts, exemplified by Rhizobium-root hair and mycorrhizal fungus-root associations are described.