Cytokinins and auxins in plant-pathogen interactions - An overview

Alterations in plant development are frequently observed following pathogen infection. Infection by virus frequently results in stunting of growth, an d the chlorosis and abscission of leaves; infection by fungi is often notab le for green island formation and growth malformations; and infection by so me bacteria results in the formation of galls. While the area of plant-path ogen interactions is currently receiving considerable attention and some pl ant-pathogen interactions are well characterised with both cytokinins and a uxins being implicated (infection by Agrobacterium tumefaciens being the ob vious example), there has been relatively little published in the recent li terature pertaining to the involvement of cytokinins and auxins in viral, f ungal and other forms of bacterial pathogenesis. This overview focuses on w hat is known concerning the strategies utilised by gall-forming bacteria, a nd fungal and viral phytopathogens to manipulate the endogenous cytokinin a nd/or auxin content of their host plant.