Ozone: An air pollutant acting as a plant-signaling molecule

The air pollutant ozone has recently been found to trigger plant signal transduction chains resembling those induced by fungal and viral pathogens. Chloroplast-related functions are generally inhibited, while genes of antioxidative and pathogen defense are activated. The resulting perturbation of plant metabolism leads to higher susceptibility (or in certain cases higher tolerance) for other abiotic and biotic stressors. This mechanism of action links ozone by some criteria to "novel" forest decline and to agricultural crop loss. Further progress appears to depend on coordinated long-term laboratory and field experiments.