Max-Planck-Institut für Züchtungsforschung, Abteilung Biochemie, Köln, FRG.
Numerous Arabidopsis genes have been cloned that correspond to putative pathogen defense-related genes identified in parsley (Petroselinum crispum). Treatment of Arabidopsis cells with fungal elicitor leads to rapid accumulation of the respective mRNAs with time courses comparable to those observed for their counterparts in parsley. Evolutionary sequence conservation of many of these genes in several plant species suggests they code for important plant functions.