PROGRESS IN PLANT PROTECTION DOI: 10.14199/ppp-2015-030

“Priming”, readiness of plants to defend themselves against pests and pathogens „Priming”, gotowość roślin do obrony przed szkodnikami i patogenami Dariusz Piesik* Summary Plants are exposed to contact with a number of pathogenic organisms, whose influence leads to disturbances in their normal functioning. The greatest physiological changes, loss of yielding and lower quality crops are caused by insect pests, and also viruses and fungi. However, plants have developed a whole range of defense capabilities resulting from an exposure e.g. to pests. Infestation by plant pathogens or attack by herbivores induce the unique physiological state of the plant, which is called “priming”. This state may also be induced by treatment of the plants of different kinds of natural or synthetic compounds. Previously treated plants may ' react faster and stronger in the activation of defense mechanisms. In fact, “priming ” is responsible for the preparation of plant defense. Volatile organic compounds may be recognized as the factors, which influence on this phenomenon. Neighboring plants receive these signals and in consequence are better prepared to defense, because it begins before the attack of pest or pathogen. Key words: volatile organic compounds; activation of plant defense mechanism Streszczeni