The Age of Coumarins in Plant–Microbe Interactions Special Issue Ioannis A. Stringlis *, Ronnie de Jonge and Corne´ M. J. Pieterse Plant-Microbe Interactions, Department of Biology, Science4Life, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, Utrecht, 3584 CH, The Netherlands *Corresponding author: E-mail,
[email protected]; Fax,+31 30 253 2837. (Received February 9, 2019; Accepted April 23, 2019) Coumarins are a family of plant-derived secondary metab- For example, the cell wall-fortifying compounds lignin, cutin olites that are produced via the phenylpropanoid pathway. and suberin form structural barriers that inhibit pathogen in- In the past decade, coumarins have emerged as iron-mobi- vasion (Doblas et al. 2017). Other phenylpropanoid derivatives – Review lizing compounds that are secreted by plant roots and aid in such as flavonoids, anthocyanins and tannins participate in iron uptake from iron-deprived soils. Members of the cou- other aspects of environmental stress adaptation, or in plant marin family are found in many plant species. Besides their growth and physiology (Vogt 2010). More specifically, flavon- role in iron uptake, coumarins have been extensively studied oids emerged as important mediators of the chemical commu- for their potential to fight infections in both plants and nication between leguminous plants and beneficial nitrogen- animals. Coumarin activities range from antimicrobial and fixing rhizobia. In this mutualistic interaction, root-secreted fla- antiviral to anticoagulant and anticancer. In recent years, vonoids act as chemoattractants for rhizobia and activate genes studies in the model plant species tobacco and required for nodulation, which established the initial paradigm Arabidopsis have significantly increased our understanding for the role phenylpropanoid-derived metabolites in beneficial of coumarin biosynthesis, accumulation, secretion, chemical plant–microbe interactions (Fisher and Long 1992, Phillips modification and their modes of action against plant patho- 1992).