When plants attack themselves: Protein mix-ups spark self-destructive immune alarms
Monday, July 21, 2025 - 09:32
in Biology & Nature
Plants, with their unique immune systems, sometimes launch "autoimmune responses" by mistakenly identifying their own protein structures as pathogens. In particular, "hybrid necrosis," a phenomenon where descendant plants fail to grow healthily and perish after cross-breeding different varieties, has long been a difficult challenge for botanists and agricultural researchers.