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Updated: May 19, 2026

Evaluating Leaf Responses to Microbial Secondary Metabolites Using A High-Throughput Format
Published on: December 5, 2025
Natural elicitors, effectors and modulators of plant responses
Massimo E Maffei1, Gen-Ichiro Arimura, Axel Mithöfer
1Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, Plant Physiology Unit, Innovation Centre, University of Turin, Via Quarello 11/A, 10135 Turin, Italy. massimo.maffei@unito.it
Abstract:
In plants, successful defense relies on fast and specific response to biotic attack. In plant-microbial and plant-plant interactions several elicitors, effectors and modulators are recognized by specific and unspecific receptors that trigger signal cascades eventually leading to gene expression and plant responses. Here we review the chemical nature and signaling pathways of natural products released by microorganisms, herbivores, and plants during pathogenic infections, herbivory, symbioses and allelopathic interactions.
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