Chitosan‐triggered immunity to Fusarium in chickpea is associated with changes in the plant extracellular matrix architecture, stomatal closure and remodeling of the plant metabolome and proteome

Summary Pathogen‐/microbe‐associated molecular patterns (PAMPs/MAMPs) initiate complex defense responses by reorganizing the biomolecular dynamics of the host cellular machinery. The extracellular matrix (ECM) acts as a physical scaffold that prevents recognition and entry of phytopathogens, while guard cells perceive and integrate signals metabolically. Although chitosan is a known MAMP implicated in plant defense, the precise mechanism of...