Plant antifungal proteins and their applications in agriculture

Appl Microbiol Biotechnol. 2015 Jun;99(12):4961-81. doi: 10.1007/s00253-015-6654-6. Epub 2015 May 15.

Abstract

Fungi are far more complex organisms than viruses or bacteria and can develop numerous diseases in plants that cause loss of a substantial portion of the crop every year. Plants have developed various mechanisms to defend themselves against these fungi which include the production of low-molecular-weight secondary metabolites and proteins and peptides with antifungal activity. In this review, families of plant antifungal proteins (AFPs) including defensins, lectins, and several others will be summarized. Moreover, the application of AFPs in agriculture will also be analyzed.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Agriculture
  • Fungi / physiology*
  • Plant Diseases / genetics
  • Plant Diseases / immunology*
  • Plant Diseases / microbiology
  • Plant Proteins / genetics
  • Plant Proteins / immunology*
  • Plants / genetics
  • Plants / immunology*
  • Plants / microbiology

Substances

  • Plant Proteins