Small talk and large impact: the importance of small RNA molecules in the fight against plant diseases.

Abstract

Abstract This short and general chapter summarizes how plants and pathogens communicate using not only proteins for recognition and signal transduction or other metabolites but also RNA molecules where small RNAs with sizes between 21 to 40 nt are most important. These small RNAs can move between plants and a range of interacting pathogenic organisms in both directions, that is, a 'cross-kingdom' communication process. The first reports on RNA-based communications between plants and plant pathogenic fungi appeared about 10 years ago. Since that time, we have learnt much about sRNA biology in plants and their function in different parasitic organisms. However, many questions on the processes involved remain unanswered. Such information is crucial in order to sustain high crop production. Besides giving a brief background, we highlight the interactions between the potato late blight pathogen and its plant host potato.