Elicitors
Are defined as substances of biotic origin which induce a defence response.
Biochemically They were
originally defined by Noel Keen as inducers of phytoalexin biosynthesis (people only knew
about phytoalexins in those days). This definition now also covers inducers of:
- hypersensitive response
- lignification
- PR proteins
Various substances are better considered to be signalling substances or hormones rather
than elicitors e.g. salicylic acid, ethylene, jasmonates.
Examples of elicitors
- Proteins, peptides
- Carbohydrates:
- beta-glucans (especially heptaglucan), xylans
- oligogalacturans (especially 10 to 15-mers)
- chitosan (>hexamers)
- Fatty acids, glycosyl lipids
Abiotic elicitors include UV light, heavy metals
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David B. Collinge, created 6/11-01 revised 04-12-01