Plant cell walls as a key driver of plant-pathogen co-evolution

Abstract Plant cell walls constitute a central battleground in the molecular arms race, shaping plant–pathogen interactions. Pathogens deploy hydrolytic enzymes to breach plant cell walls, whereas plants perceive cell wall damage through sophisticated resistance mechanisms. Co-evolutionary dynamics between both organisms continue, as pathogens evolve strategies to evade host recognition while plants counteract the activity of hydrolytic enzymes. Consequently, in this interorganismal interaction, plant cell walls emerge as critical for the outcome of the disease. In this review, we expand the classical arms race model and incorporate the contribution of plant cell walls in plant immunity and filamentous pathogen virulence.