Regulating stomatal movement is a critical strategic interplay between plants and pathogens, directly affecting both the host plant's disease resistance and the pathogen's virulence. The dynamics of stomatal movement under plant-pathogen interactions present a highly dynamic and complex process. Climate factors compound this complexity, critically influencing both pathogen virulence and host plant immunity. In recent years, substantial research progress has been made in understanding the molecular mechanisms controlling stomatal movement during plant-pathogen interactions.

On November 30th, Shuguo Hou's research group published a review paper titled "Small holes, big impact: Stomata in plant-pathogen-climate epic trifecta" in Molecular Plant. This review comprehensively summarizes the breakthroughs in our understanding of the molecular regulation mechanisms underpinning stomatal immunity in recent years. It deeply explores the critical role of stomata in the nexus of plant-pathogen-climate interplay, and elucidates the dynamic changes in stomata regulated by pathogen-associated molecular patterns, effector molecules, and host plant cellular factors. Furthermore, it describes how climate change influences plant-pathogen interactions by modifying stomatal behaviour.

The study of stomatal immunity could enhance crop resistance in the future by modulating stomatal immunity, thereby boosting food production. The response of stomata to climate change may also contribute to the formulation of climate control strategies to cope with the intensifying global climate change.