Journal of Experimental Botany doi:10.1093/jxb/ert275

Plants are confronted with several biotic stresses such as microbial pathogens and other herbivores. To defend against such attackers, plants possess an array of pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) that sense the danger and consequently initiate a defence programme that prevents further damage and spreading of the pest. Characteristic pathogenic structures, so-called microbe-associated molecular patterns (MAMPs), serve as signals that allow the plant to sense invaders. Additionally, pathogens wound or damage the plant and the resulting release of damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) serves as a warning signal. This review focuses on peptides that serve as triggers or amplifiers of plant defence and thus follow the definition of a MAMP or a DAMP. Key words: Damage-associated molecular pattern, ligand–receptor interaction, microbe-associated molecular pattern, pattern recognition receptors, peptide ligand, plant defence, plant immunity. Introduction: plant immunity Plants as sessile organisms have to resist abiotic and biotic stresses without the option to escape. To defend against pathogen attacks, plants possess an efficient innate immune system to battle the—mostly microbial—enemies. Typica