Elicitin

In molecular biology, elicitins are a family of small, highly conserved proteins secreted by phytopathogenic microorganisms belonging to the Phytophthora and Pythium species. They are toxic proteins responsible for inducing a necrotic and systemic hypersensitive response in plants from the Solanaceae and Cruciferae families. Leaf necrosis provides immediate control of fungal invasion and induces systemic acquired resistance; both responses mediate basic protection against subsequent pathogen inoculation.