Chitin-Induced Responses in the Moss Physcomitrella patens.

A MAP kinase pathway below a chitin receptor in the moss Physcomitrella patens induces immune responses including rapid growth inhibition, a novel fluorescence burst, and cell wall depositions. The molecular mechanisms producing these three responses are currently unknown but warrant further investigation in this simple model system. Here we describe qualitative, time-lapse, and quantitative assays to monitor and measure these responses.