Symbiotic and Plant Pathogen Interactions

Plants interact with a multitude of microorganisms in their environment. These microorganisms act alone or in community. They can have negative or positive effects on plants, their growth, nutrition and health. In this module, we will present the different forms that these biotic interactions can take (symbioses, parasitism-pathogenicity), using popular biological models (mycorrhizal or nitrogen-fixing symbioses, diseases caused by different microorganisms). This will also be an opportunity to present emerging concepts in the field, such as the microbiome or the holobiont.

Understanding the main types of biotic interactions

Gain a general understanding of the mechanisms involved in the initial and chronic stages of a biotic interaction.

Know how to inoculate a plant with a bacterium or fungus and monitor the appearance of symptoms (growth/disease/alteration of root development).