Decoding plant defense signaling using the defenseless mutant

Despite extensive disruption of immune signaling in the defenseless mutant, residual resistance to A. alternata and Pst DC3000 persisted at levels exceeding those of known defense-compromised controls. Our RNA-seq analysis revealed a largely preserved transcriptional response, with comparable differential gene expression profiles in both Col-0 and defenseless backgrounds. These results further emphasize that full immune suppression necessitates the concurrent disruption of multiple, potentially redundant pathways (beyond our current understanding). The persistence of some resistance further implies the presence of unidentified immune mechanisms, highlighting the complexity and resilience of the plant immune system, which we are still highly unfamiliar with. Overall design: RNAseq-profiling of Col-0 (WT) and defenseless mutant (mutation in 6 different defense genes) in control and ozone conditions, with three replicates of each.