Plant Defense Mechanisms
Part of Plant Diseases and Defenses · GCSE GCSE Biology revision
This deep dive covers Plant Defense Mechanisms within Plant Diseases and Defenses for GCSE Biology. Plant pathogens, defense mechanisms, disease identification, crop protection It is section 7 of 18 in this topic. Use this deep dive to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
Topic position
Section 7 of 18
Practice
22 questions
Recall
21 flashcards
Plant Defense Mechanisms
Physical Defenses
Waxy Cuticle
- Waterproof layer on leaves
- Prevents pathogen entry
- Reduces water loss
- Especially thick in desert plants
Cell Walls
- Made of tough cellulose
- Physical barrier to penetration
- Provide structural support
- Can thicken in response to attack
Bark
- Thick, protective outer layer
- Dead cells form barrier
- Protects inner living tissue
- Contains antimicrobial compounds
Thorns and Spines
- Deter herbivores
- Prevent physical damage
- Reduce pathogen transmission
- Modified leaves or stems
Chemical Defenses
Types of Chemical Compounds
- Antimicrobial proteins: Directly kill bacteria and fungi
- Antifungal compounds: Prevent fungal growth and spore germination
- Antiviral proteins: Interfere with virus replication
- Toxins: Poisonous to pathogens and herbivores
- Enzyme inhibitors: Block pathogen enzymes
Production and Response
- Constitutive: Always present as baseline protection
- Induced: Produced rapidly in response to attack
- Systemic: Warning signals sent throughout plant
- Local: Concentrated at site of infection
Keep building this topic
Read this section alongside the surrounding pages in Plant Diseases and Defenses. That gives you the full topic sequence instead of a single isolated revision point.
Practice Questions for Plant Diseases and Defenses
What type of pathogen causes rose black spot disease?
Explain how rose black spot affects the growth of infected plants.
Quick Recall Flashcards
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