Calcium Signaling in Plant Biotic Interactions and Defense

Dear Colleagues,

Ca²⁺ signaling is important in every organism and is involved in numerous signal cascades initiated by many different stimuli and stresses. In plants, transient increases in the concentration of Ca²⁺ serve to transduce signals received by membrane receptors in the form of ligand binding. These transitory signals are translated into downstream responses in the cytosol and membrane-bounded organelles after perception by Ca²⁺sensor proteins. Ca²⁺-binding proteins such as Ca²⁺-dependent kinases, calmodulins (and calmodulin-like proteins), and calcineurin B-like proteins are all involved. The responses to Ca²⁺ signaling include short-term effects such as reactive oxygen species generation, MAP kinase activation, gene expression regulation, and extracellular pH changes. Longer-term effects include structural changes, e.g., the formation of root nodules associated with Rhizobium spp, production of defensive compounds (in the case of biotic threats), and alteration of the growth–defense tradeoff. Advances in elucidating the mechanisms of Ca²⁺ signaling, including the “decoding” of this ubiquitous ion by sensor proteins, will lead to a greater understanding of the roles of Ca²⁺ in biotic interactions. This requires studying each stage in plant-signaling cascades. Assessing biotic interactions between plants and other organisms (and viruses) is becoming even more important. In light of both the intensification of disease/herbivory pressures faced in agriculture and conservation and the popularity of sustainable agriculture that makes use of plant innate signaling and biocontrols.

This Special Issue aims to offer new insights into how Ca²⁺ signaling affects plant biotic interactions. Contributions are welcomed from scientists working at all system levels, including molecule, cell, organism, and environment/ecological perspectives. Studies addressing any of the above aspects of plant Ca²⁺ signaling would be appropriate contributions.

Prof. Dr. Gerald A. Berkowitz
Dr. Mang Ma
Dr. Alice Kira Zelman
Guest Editors

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