Reactive Oxygen Species in the Activation of Plant Immunity

ABSTRACT The plant immune system works against pathogens and seems to have co‐evolved with plants. Perception of pathogens by plant receptors leads to the initiation of signaling cascades that drive plant immunity. In events of plant‐pathogen interaction, reactive oxygen species (ROS) function as first‐line warriors in triggering plant immunity. The production of ROS is initiated with the perception of microbes and is mediated by RBOHs (respiratory burst oxidase homologues). The generated ROS trigger the signaling cascades involving one or more phytohormones, leading to cellular reprogramming. In this article, we present our perspective on when ROS come into play and interact with other chemical signatures of the cells to develop plant immunity. At last, we briefly discuss the components of plant‐pathogen interaction that could potentially be utilized for developing broad‐spectrum disease‐resistant crop plants.