Application of Antimicrobial Peptides for Disease Control in Plants

A large number of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) from different organisms have been characterized to date. AMPs are small molecular weight proteins with broad spectrum antimicrobial activity against bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Several diseases in plants could result in serious losses and decreasing quality and safety of agricultural products. Being an agent for plant defense, AMPs kill target cells through diverse mechanisms once in a target microbial membrane. Cathelicidins, defensins and thionins are the three major groups of epidermal AMPs in human and plants. Plant AMPs are structurally and functionally diverse and can be directed against other organisms, like herbivorous insects. The biological activity of plant AMPs primarily depends on interactions with membrane lipids. Several antimicrobial peptides have been expressed in transgenic plants to confer disease protection. Antimicrobial peptides are interesting compounds that can be efficiently exploited for disease control in plants in a way that complies with the strict regulations on the efficacy and safety of disease control strategy.