Plant-Microbial Interactions Involving Quorum Sensing Regulation

Abstract

Quorum Sensing (QS) is a mechanism of bacterial intercellular communication that depends on their population density. QS activates the expression of hundreds of bacterial genes, many of which play an important role in plant-bacterial interactions. This review summarizes the latest achievements in the research of bacterial QS signaling in plant-microbial interactions. The review focuses specifically on the best-studied QS systems, i.e., those of gram-negative bacteria which involve N-acyl-homoserine lactones (AHL). The effects of AHL and AHL-producing bacteria on plant growth, development, and defense responses are considered. Signaling functions of plant metabolites which regulate QS-dependent behavior of associated microbiota via the activation or inhibition of bacterial QS systems are described. Possible degradation pathways of AHL in the rhizosphere are also considered. Practical applications of QS regulation for plant protection are discussed.