TUNING PECTIN METHYLESTERIFICATION TO PROTECT CELL WALL INTEGRITY FOR IMMUNITY TO PATHOGENS
Infection by necrotrophic fungi is a complex process that starts with the breakdown of the cell wall (CW) matrix initiated by CW degrading enzymes and results in extensive tissue maceration. Plant can exploit induced defense mechanisms based on biochemical modification of the CW components to protect themselves from the pathogen. We found that plants activate CW remodeling mechanisms based on matrix strengthening, callose deposition and synthesis of structural defense proteins to resist to CW degradation upon necrotroph infection.