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Review
. 2017 Mar 1;119(5):725-735.
doi: 10.1093/aob/mcw211.

Should I fight or should I grow now? The role of cytokinins in plant growth and immunity and in the growth-defence trade-off

Tessa Albrecht, Cristiana T Argueso
Review

Should I fight or should I grow now? The role of cytokinins in plant growth and immunity and in the growth-defence trade-off

Tessa Albrecht et al. Ann Bot. .

Abstract

Background: Perception and activation of plant immunity require a remarkable level of signalling plasticity and control. In Arabidopsis and other plant species, constitutive defence activation leads to resistance to a broad spectrum of biotrophic pathogens, but also frequently to stunted growth and reduced seed set. Plant hormones are important integrators of the physiological responses that influence the outcome of plant-pathogen interactions.

Scope: We review the mechanisms by which the plant hormone cytokinin regulates both plant growth and response to pathogens, and how cytokinins may connect these two processes, ultimately affecting the growth trade-offs observed in plant immunity.

Keywords: Cytokinin; defence; fitness costs; growth–defence trade-offs; pathogens; plant development; plant growth; plant immunity.

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Figures

F<sc>ig</sc>. 1.
Fig. 1.
Schematic representation of the role of cytokinins in plant growth and defence against biotrophic pathogens, and in the growth–defence trade-off. Under normal growing conditions, cytokinin promotes shoot growth while inhibiting root growth (yellow arrows). Infection by a biotrophic pathogen stimulates pattern-triggered immunity (PTI) activation, oxidative stress (ROS) and salicylic acid biosynthesis, culminating in salicylic acid-dependent defence responses that suppress biotrophic pathogen growth (blue arrows). Cytokinins can enhance defence activation by salicylic acid-dependent and -independent processes (cytokinin-induced immunity; green arrows). Cytokinins can also help pathogen growth, by mechanisms that include suppression of PTI and ROS (cytokinin-induced susceptibility; red arrows). Increased salicylic acid content/signalling inhibits cytokinin-regulated processes, potentially causing inhibition of plant growth, a likely mechanism by which the growth–defence trade-off may occur. Arrows indicate positive interaction; blunt ends indicate negative interaction (inhibition).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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