Abiotic and Biotic Stresses and Changes in the Lignin Content and Composition in Plants

• Published in: Journal of integrative plant biology 2010-04, Vol.52 (4), p.360-376
• Main Authors: Moura, Jullyana Cristina Magalhães Silva, Bonine, Cesar Augusto Valencise, de Oliveira Fernandes Viana, Juliana, Dornelas, Marcelo Carnier, Mazzafera, Paulo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cold Temperature; Droughts; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant - genetics; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant - physiology; Host-Pathogen Interactions; Light; Lignin - genetics; Lignin - metabolism; Plants - genetics; Plants - metabolism; Plants - microbiology; Plants - radiation effects; Stress, Mechanical; Ultraviolet Rays; 代谢控制; 基因表达; 木质素合成; 木质素含量; 植物组成; 植物防卫反应; 生物胁迫; 非生物
• ISSN: 1672-9072; 1744-7909
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1744-7909.2010.00892.x

Lignin is a polymer of phenylpropanoid compounds formed through a complex biosynthesis route, represented by a metabolic grid for which most of the genes involved have been sequenced in several plants, mainly in the model-plants Arabidopsis thaliana and Populus. Plants are exposed to different stresses, which may change lignin content and composition. In many cases, particularly for plant-microbe interactions, this has been suggested as defence responses of plants to the stress. Thus, understanding how a stressor modulates expression of the genes related with lignin biosynthesis may allow us to develop study-models to increase our knowledge on the metabolic control of lignin deposition in the cell wall. This review focuses on recent literature reporting on the main types of abiotic and biotic stresses that alter the biosynthesis of lignin in plants.