Role of Chitosan as a Natural Elicitor in Inducing Systemic Resistance against Plant Pathogens
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.59436/jsiane.375.2583-2093Keywords:
Chitosan, Chitin, sustainable crop protection, chitosan nanoparticlesAbstract
Chitosan is a biopolymer of natural origin produced by modification of chitin. Chitin is abundantly found in cell walls of fungi, shells of crustaceans and insect exoskeleton. Chitin to chitosan transformation involves removal of acetyl groups from the chitin structure. The deacetylation process converts chitin into chitosan. Chitosan is a biodegradable and nontoxic biopolymer. In agriculture, chitosan has gained popularity as a natural elicitor that stimulates the plant's own defence system without directly killing pathogens. Instead of acting as a pesticide, chitosan acts as immunity booster in plants, allowing them to defend themselves against a variety of diseases. This review focusses on chitosan's role in inducing systemic defence mechanisms in plants, as well as the underlying physiological and molecular responses triggered by chitosan application.
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