Bet-hedging in plant immunity: Pep receptors facilitate prioritization of defense or growth under phosphate deficiency

Bet-hedging in plant immunity: Pep receptors facilitate prioritization of defense or growth under phosphate deficiency Under phosphate (Pi) limitation, plants activate the Pi-starvation response (PSR) to enhance Pi uptake and engage with mutualistic microbes, while also mounting pathogen resistance through mechanisms still poorly understood.In Arabidopsis thaliana, damage-inducible Pep peptides, perceived by PEPR1/PEPR2 receptors, amplify immune responses.Here, we show that Pep1-induced defenses are specifically enhanced under Pi deficiency, suggesting functional diversification of pattern recognition receptors during nutrient stress.Notably, PSR gene expression is reduced in non-elicited plants lacking PEPR1/PEPR2 or PROPEP1-PROPEP8, uncovering an unexpected role for PEPRs in nutrient signaling.Our findings indicate that PEPRs function as a ligand-dependent molecular switch, integrating immune and nutrient responses.This dual role likely supports a contextdependent balance between growth and defense, representing a bethedging strategy for survival under nutrient-limited conditions.