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Plasmodesmata

Plasmodesmata

The organs in a multicellular organism’s body are made up of tissues formed by cells. To work together cohesively, cells must communicate. One way that cells communicate is through direct contact with other cells. The points of contact that connect adjacent cells are called intercellular junctions.Intercellular junctions are a feature of fungal, plant, and animal cells alike. However, different types of junctions are found in different kinds of cells. Intercellular junctions found in animal...

Plasmodesmata

Plasmodesmata

In a multicellular organism, cells must communicate to work together in a coordinated manner. One way that cells communicate is through direct contact with other cells. The points of contact that connect adjacent cells are called intercellular junctions.
Intercellular junctions are a feature of fungal, plant, and animal cells. However, different types of junctions are found in different kinds of cells. Intercellular junctions found in animal cells include tight junctions, gap junctions, and...

The Apoplast and Symplast

The Apoplast and Symplast

Plant growth depends on its ability to take up water and dissolved minerals from the soil. The root system of every plant is equipped with the necessary tissues to facilitate the entry of water and solutes. The plant tissues involved in the transport of water and minerals have two major compartments - the apoplast and the symplast. The apoplast includes everything outside the plasma membrane of living cells and consists of cell walls, extracellular spaces, xylem, phloem, and tracheids. The...

Defenses Against Pathogens and Herbivores

Defenses Against Pathogens and Herbivores

Plants present a rich source of nutrients for many organisms, making it a target for herbivores and infectious agents. Plants, though lacking a proper immune system, have developed an array of constitutive and inducible defenses to fend off these attacks.

Contact-dependent Signaling

Contact-dependent Signaling

Contact-dependent signaling, as the name suggests, requires that communicating cells be in direct contact with each other. This is achieved either through receptor-ligand interactions or by specialized cytoplasmic channels that allow the flow of small molecules between cells. In animal cells, channels called gap junctions facilitate contact-dependent signaling in certain tissues, whereas, plasmodesmata perform a similar function in plants.
Gap Junctions
In animal cells, gap junctions are formed...

The Phragmoplast

The Phragmoplast

Cell division is essential for organismal growth and development. In animal cells, the central spindle and its associated proteins form the midbody, a structure that has an essential role in cytokinesis. In plants, the central spindle, along with the microtubules, actin, and other cell components, matures into the phragmoplast, which is necessary for cytokinesis. Unlike the stationary midbody, the phragmoplast expands centrifugally, eventually leading to the formation of the new cell wall.
The...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 4, 2026

Confocal Microscopy Analysis of Protein Sorting to Plasmodesmata in Nicotiana benthamiana

Confocal Microscopy Analysis of Protein Sorting to Plasmodesmata in Nicotiana benthamiana

Published on: November 1, 2024

Plasmodesmata: the battleground against intruders.

Jung-Youn Lee¹, Hua Lu

¹Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, Delaware Biotechnology Institute, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19711, USA. lee@dbi.udel.edu

Trends in Plant Science

|February 22, 2011

Summary

Plants use plasmodesmata (intercellular channels) to actively defend against viral, fungal, and bacterial pathogens. This review explores plant immune strategies against pathogen spread via these crucial cell-to-cell connections.

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Last Updated: Jun 4, 2026

Confocal Microscopy Analysis of Protein Sorting to Plasmodesmata in Nicotiana benthamiana

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Area of Science:

Plant biology
Plant pathology
Cellular communication

Background:

Plasmodesmata are essential for plant cell-to-cell communication.
Microbial pathogens exploit plasmodesmata to spread infections within plants.
Plants possess defense mechanisms to limit pathogen intercellular movement.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the active role of plasmodesmata in plant immunity.
To examine plant defense strategies against pathogens exploiting plasmodesmata.
To discuss pathogen lifestyles and their impact on infection modes.

Main Methods:

Literature review of scientific evidence.
Analysis of plant-pathogen interactions at plasmodesmata.
Comparative study of different pathogen types and plant defenses.

Main Results:

Plasmodesmata are not merely passive conduits but actively participate in plant defense.
Plants employ diverse strategies to restrict pathogen intercellular spread through plasmodesmata.
Pathogen infection modes and lifestyles influence the effectiveness of plant defenses.

Conclusions:

Plasmodesmata are critical components of the plant immune system.
Understanding plasmodesmata-mediated immunity is key to developing disease-resistant crops.
Plant defense mechanisms evolve to counteract pathogen exploitation of intercellular pathways.