Corné Pieterse

Beneficial root microbiota and induced systemic resistance (ISR)

Non-pathogenic rhizobacteria live in or on plant roots and are able to help the plant to defend itself by activating a systemic, broad-spectrum disease resistance called rhizobacteria-induced systemic resistance (ISR). In the past years we investigated the molecular mechanisms of how beneficial soil-borne rhizobacteria are able to stimulate the plant’s immune system, thereby protecting the plant against a broad spectrum of plant pathogens and even insect herbivores. We unraveled many molecular details of the ISR signaling pathway. A recent review on this topic entitled “Induced systemic resistance (ISR) by beneficial microbes" provides a comprehensive update of the field (Annual Review of Phytopathology 52: 347-375).