Effectors in Plant-Microbe Interactions

Book excerpt: Plants and microbes interact in a complex relationship that can have both harmful and beneficial impacts on both plant and microbial communities. Effectors, secreted microbial molecules that alter plant processes and facilitate colonization, are central to understanding the complicated interplay between plants and microbes. Effectors in Plant-Microbe Interactions unlocks the molecular basis of this important class of microbial molecules and describes their diverse and complex interactions with host plants. Effectors in Plant Microbe Interactions is divided into five sections that take stock of the current knowledge on effectors of plant-associated organisms. Coverage ranges from the impact of bacterial, fungal and oomycete effectors on plant immunity and high-throughput genomic analysis of effectors to the function and trafficking of these microbial molecules. The final section looks at effectors secreted by other eukaryotic microbes that are the focus of current and future research efforts. Written by leading international experts in plant-microbe interactions, Effectors in Plant Microbe Interactions, will be an essential volume for plant biologists, microbiologists, pathologists, and geneticists.