Phytocytokine SCREWs increase plant immunity through actively reopening stomata

Plants secreted phytocytokine SMALL PHYTOCYTOKINES REGULATING DEFENSE AND WATER LOSS (SCREWs) and its receptor PLANT SCREW UNRESPONSIVE RECEPTOR (NUT) to counter abscisic acid (ABA)- and pathogen-induced stomatal closure (Liu et al.). This novel signaling process provides plants with a new strategy to increase immunity through disrupting an aqueous habitat for pathogen colonization.