B. Vernooij, L. Friedrich, A. Morse, R. Reist, R. Kolditz-Jawhar, E. Ward, S. Uknes, H. Kessmann, J. Ryals, "Salicylic acid is not the translocated signal responsible for inducing systemic acquired resistance but is required in signal transduction," Plant Cell, 6:959-65, 1994. (Cited in 40 publications through April 1996)
Comments by Bernard Vernooij, Ciba-Geigy Corp., Research Triangle Park, N.C.
Plants have evolved a host of defense mechanisms for fighting infection by viruses, bacteria, and fungi. For instance, when they recognize an infection, plants produce antimicrobial compounds and induce programmed cell death in infected areas. In addition, uninfected parts of a plant can develop a heightened resistance to help stem further infection by a number of pathogens, a phenomenon called systemic acquired resistance (SAR). Little is known, however, about the biochemical events between initial infection and systemic resistance, according to Bernard Vernooij, a senior scientist in the agricultural biotechnology division...