Quorum Quenching Applications in Plant Biotechnology

Abstract

Quorum sensing is a signal transmission and recognition system used by bacterial cells for several biochemical and physiological functions, including pathogenicity, and is significant in resisting the plant immune system. While the molecules and the chemical reactions involved vary among different classes of bacteria, the system involves a molecule known as an auto inducer (AI), usually produced by the bacteria, which triggers specific expression pathways and responses in other bacterial cells. Some species of plants have been observed to produce chemicals that hinder or inhibit quorum sensing, a process termed quorum quenching. This approach offers a systemic and scalable approach for controlling plant pathogens. Quorum quenching can be induced in plants to enhance their resistance to pathogens by hijacking different aspects of the signalling system, offering multiple approaches ranging from the external application of quorum quenchers to the development of transgenic plants with quorum quenching mechanisms. This mechanism offers several advantages over conventional methods of pathogen control in agriculture, such as low toxicity for humans and low chances of development of drug resistance.