beta-Aminobutyric acid-induced resistance in plants

Thehe broad sprectrum protective effect of the non-protein amino acid beta -aminobutyric acid (BABA) against numerous plant diseases has been well-doc umented in the literature. Here, we present an overview of BABA-induced pro tection in various pathosystems. Contriidictory reports concerning the mech anism of action underlying this type of protection incited us to take advan tage of Arabidopsis/pathogen interactions as model systems to investigate t he action of BABA at the genetic and molecular level. We present evidence t hat the protective effect of BABA is due to a potentiation of natural defen se mechanisms against biotic and abiotic stresses. In order to dissect the pathways involved in potentiation by BABA describe the use of a mutational approach based on BABA-induced female sterility in Arabidopsis.