Abscisic acid and nitric oxide confer poplar rust resistance through host defense activation and cross-kingdom regulation of effector genes.
Leaf rust disease caused by Melampsora larici-populina severely impacts the photosynthesis and growth of Populus cathayana, causing substantial productivity losses in forest trees. Abscisic acid (ABA) and nitric oxide (NO) are known to play key roles in plant defense. However, their synergistic interplay in woody plant...