INFECTION THREAD Meaning and
Definition
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An infection thread is a specialized structure formed by certain plant pathogenic bacteria during the early stages of infection. It is a tubular extension of the host plant's root hair or occasionally another type of plant cell that serves as a conduit for the bacteria to invade the plant tissue.
When pathogenic bacteria encounter a susceptible plant, they release signals that trigger the formation of an infection thread. The bacteria, often called symbionts, enter the root hair cell through a localized point of entry known as the infection thread initiation site. The bacterial cells multiply within the host cell, forming colonies that undergo a change in shape and secrete various substances.
As the infection thread elongates, it pushes through the root hair cell and moves across the plant's intracellular spaces, guided by the host's cellular components which actively direct its progress. The infection thread eventually reaches adjacent plant cells, bypassing any plant defense mechanisms along the way. This movement allows the pathogenic bacteria to colonize and spread within the host plant, subsequently causing disease symptoms.
The infection thread is a crucial structural feature of the infection process as it provides a protected route for bacteria to colonize and multiply within the plant. Understanding the formation and dynamics of infection threads can aid in the development of strategies to control plant diseases caused by pathogenic bacteria, including the development of targeted treatments or genetically modified plants with enhanced resistance.
Common Misspellings for INFECTION THREAD
- unfection thread
- jnfection thread
- knfection thread
- onfection thread
- 9nfection thread
- 8nfection thread
- ibfection thread
- imfection thread
- ijfection thread
- ihfection thread
- indection thread
- incection thread
- invection thread
- ingection thread
- intection thread
- inrection thread
- infwction thread
- infsction thread
- infdction thread
- infrction thread
Etymology of INFECTION THREAD
The term "infection thread" is primarily used in the context of plant-microbe interactions, especially for describing the process by which rhizobia bacteria infect legume plants. The etymology of the term can be broken down as follows:
1. Infection: The word "infection" comes from the Latin word "infectio", which means "a contaminating influence, poisoning, or corruption". It has its roots in the Latin verb "inficere", meaning "to put into" or "to stain".
2. Thread: The word "thread" comes from the Old English word "þræd", which originally referred to a fine cord made from twisting fibers together. Its usage has extended to describe anything long, thin, and flexible, similar to a thread.
