Plant Antimicrobial Peptides: Next-Generation Bioactive Molecules for Plant Protection

Plants are under constant attack by diverse groups of pathogenic microorganisms but are able to survive and thrive harmoniously with these organisms. To accomplish this, they produce bioactive molecules called antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) constitutively or after receiving chemical cues and downstream processing of the signals. The AMPs are low-molecular-weight molecules with broad-spectrum activity and less cytotoxicity affecting not only pathogenic microbes but also neoplastic cells. They play an important role in the innate immunity of plants. Studies have shown that heterologous expression of AMPs in plants conferred disease resistance. In this chapter we have discussed two major families of plant AMPs, elaborating their mode of action and their use in plant protection. We have also highlighted the plant-based expression systems for AMPs in brief and addressed its application in agriculture and therapeutic purposes.