All Marc Ongena articles

  • Arabidopsis_thaliana_inflorescencias
    News

    How soil bacteria help plants defend themselves against disease

    2026-05-08T14:51:00Z

    A study reveals the mechanism by which surfactin, a molecule produced by beneficial soil bacteria, activates plants’ immune defences. This mechanism, distinct from the classical paradigm of immune recognition, relies on direct interaction with the plant cell membrane.