In plants Parasitism

leaf spot on oak. spread of parasitic fungus limited defensive chemicals produced tree, resulting in circular patches of damaged tissue.

in response parasitic attack, plants undergo series of metabolic , biochemical reaction pathways enact defensive responses. example, parasitic invasion causes increase in jasmonic acid-insensitive (ja) , nahg (sa) pathway. these pathways produce chemicals induce defensive responses, such production of chemicals or defensive molecules fight off attack. different biochemical pathways activated different parasites. in general, there 2 types of responses can activated pathways. plants can either initiate specific or non-specific response. specific responses involve gene-gene recognition of plant , parasite. can mediated ability of plant’s cell receptors recognizing , binding molecules located on cell surface of parasites. once plant’s receptors recognizes parasite, plant localizes defensive compounds area creating hypersensitive response. form of defense mechanism localizes area of attack , keeps parasite spreading. furthermore, specific response against parasitic attack prevents plants wasting energy increasing defenses not needed. however, specific defensive responses target specific parasites. if plant lacks ability recognize parasite, specific defense responses not activated. nonspecific defensive responses work against parasites. these responses active on time , systematic, meaning responses not confined area of plant, rather spread throughout entirety of organism. however, nonspecific responses energy costly, since plant has ensure genes producing nonspecific responses expressed.