Jasmonate-Mediated Defense Coordination in the Cereal–Pathogen Arms Race

Global food production depends largely on cereal crops such as rice ( Oryza sativa L.), maize ( Zea mays L.), wheat ( Triticum spp.), and sorghum ( Sorghum bicolor ). Plant pathogens, including fungi, bacteria, and viruses—exacerbate global food insecurity by lowering yields and posing risks to both human and animal health. To defend against these threats, plants have developed complex immune systems capable of recognizing and responding to invading organisms. Pathogens, however, have evolved diverse strategies to bypass or suppress host defenses. In this review, we outline the major fungal, bacterial, and viral diseases of cereal crops, describe their distribution and co-evolutionary patterns, and highlight recent advances in understanding jasmonic acid (JA)–mediated defense mechanisms.