Regulation of Plant Mineral Nutrition by Signal Molecules

Microbes operate their metabolic activities at a unicellular level. However, it has been revealed that a few metabolic activities only prove beneficial to microbes if operated at high cell densities. These cell density-dependent activities termed quorum sensing (QS) operate through specific chemical signals. In Gram-negative bacteria, the most widely reported QS signals are acylhomoserine lactones. In contrast, a novel QS-like system has been elucidated, regulating communication between microbes and plants through strigolactones. These systems regulate bioprocesses, which affect the health of plants, animals, and human beings. This mini-review presents recent developments in the QS and QS-like signal molecules in promoting plant health.

Automated summary

Quorum sensing (QS) activities operate at high cell densities through specific chemical signals, with acylhomoserine lactones being the most widely reported in Gram-negative bacteria. A novel QS-like system involving strigolactones has been elucidated for communication between microbes and plants, regulating important bioprocesses that influence the health of plants, animals, and humans. This mini-review discusses recent developments in QS and QS-like signal molecules in promoting plant health.