Jasmonate Signaling in Plant Defense and Stress Responses

Jasmonates are a class of lipid-derived phytohormones that play a central role in coordinating plant defence against biotic attackers and mediating responses to a wide range of abiotic stresses. Biosynthesis of jasmonic acid (JA) begins in plastids with the release of α-linolenic acid and proceeds via the octadecanoid pathway to form JA, which is further conjugated to amino acids—most notably isoleucine—to produce jasmonoyl-L-isoleucine (JA-Ile), the bioactive ligand recognised by the SCFCOI1–JAZ co-receptor complex. Perception of JA-Ile by this complex triggers JAZ protein degradation, thereby liberating transcription factors such as MYC2 to activate defence and stress-responsive gene networks. This signalling cascade underpins local and systemic resistance to herbivory and pathogens, orchestrates stomatal closure and antioxidant defences in response to drought, salinity and temperature extremes, and integrates signals from other hormone pathways including salicylic acid, ethylene and abscisic acid to balance growth and survival. Trade-offs between defence activation and growth are dynamically managed through transcriptional repression modules, while intercellular and airborne transport of jasmonate derivatives facilitates long-distance signalling and priming. Advances in structural biology, genomics and metabolomics have elucidated the molecular architecture and regulation of jasmonate signalling components, opening avenues for precision breeding and biotechnological interventions to enhance crop resilience in sustainable agriculture.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Recent studies have identified an OsMYB8–OsJAR1 module in rice that regulates diurnal floret opening by modulating JA-Ile biosynthesis in lodicules. Natural promoter variants of OsMYB8 drive differential expression of the JA-Ile synthetase OsJAR1, influencing cell-wall remodelling and osmoregulation to synchronise floret opening in indica and japonica subspecies, with implications for hybrid breeding. In Arabidopsis, manipulation of a quintet of JAZ repressors in combination with phytochrome B uncoupled the canonical growth–defence trade-off. Relief of transcriptional repression in jaz quintuple phyB mutants enhanced insect resistance without penalising biomass accumulation, revealing that hardwired transcriptional programmes rather than resource diversion underpin growth suppression during jasmonate responses.

Jasmonate Signaling in Plant Defense and Stress Responses publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in jasmonate signaling in plant defense and stress responses across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Jasmonic acid (JA): A lipid-derived phytohormone synthesised via the octadecanoid pathway that regulates defence and stress responses.

Jasmonoyl-L-isoleucine (JA-Ile): The conjugated form of JA and isoleucine that serves as the bioactive ligand for jasmonate perception.

JAZ proteins: A family of transcriptional repressors that are degraded upon JA-Ile perception, releasing downstream transcription factors.

SCFCOI1 complex: An E3 ubiquitin-ligase co-receptor involving COI1 that recognises JA-Ile-bound JAZ for ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation.

Oxylipins: Oxygenated derivatives of polyunsaturated fatty acids, including jasmonates, that function as signalling molecules in plant stress responses.

References

1. Natural variation in OsMYB8 confers diurnal floret opening time divergence between indica and japonica subspecies. Nature Communications (2024).
2. Rewiring of jasmonate and phytochrome B signalling uncouples plant growth-defense tradeoffs. Nature Communications (2016).
3. Recent advances in the chemistry and biology of plant oxylipin hormones. Natural Product Reports (2025).
4. Jasmonic Acid Signaling Pathway in Plants. International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2019).
5. The Crosstalks Between Jasmonic Acid and Other Plant Hormone Signaling Highlight the Involvement of Jasmonic Acid as a Core Component in Plant Response to Biotic and Abiotic Stresses. Frontiers in Plant Science (2019).
6. Jasmonic Acid Signaling Pathway in Response to Abiotic Stresses in Plants. International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2020).
7. Functional Convergence of Oxylipin and Abscisic Acid Pathways Controls Stomatal Closure in Response to Drought. Plant Physiology (2014).