The role of salicylic acid in the plant defense mechanism

Abstract

Pollution and climate change negatively affect plant health. The growing demand for global food production in the agricultural sector is a decisive driving force for the development of new disease control methods that are effective against known pathogens. Plants possess specialized structures, chemicals, and complex defense mechanisms against pathogens. Understanding these defense mechanisms and pathways is critical to developing innovative approaches to protecting crops from disease. Plant stress can be reduced by applying salicylic acid, which is involved in plant signaling. Salicylic acid induces pathogenetic gene expression and the synthesis of protective compounds involved in local and systemic acquired resistance. For this reason, salicylic acid can be used against pathogens, heavy metal stress, and salt stress. The applied salicylic acid enhances photosynthesis, growth, and various morphological, physiological, and biochemical mechanisms in stressed plants. In this article, we look at the use of exogenous salicylic acid for the relief of bacterial, fungal, and viral diseases.