Physiological and Molecular Plant Pathology 112 (2020) 101548 Available online 29 August 2020 0885-5765/© 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Regulation of Capsicum immunity against microbial pathogens: Transcription factors in focus Ali Noman a, * , Sameer Hasan Qari b , Muhammad Aqeel c, ** , Noreen Khalid d , Saad Alamri e, f , Nahla Alsayed Bouqellah g , Mohamed Hashem e, k , Mona H. Soliman h , Habib Ali i , Ijaz Haider j a Department of Botany, Government College University, Faisalabad, Pakistan b Biology Department, Al-Jumum University College, Umm Al Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia c State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agroecosystems, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, Gansu, PR China d Department of Botany, Govt. College Women University Sialkot, Pakistan e King Khalid University, College of Science, Department of Biology, Abha, 61413, Saudi Arabia f Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz Center for Environmental and Tourism Research and Studies, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia g Taibah University, Science College, Biology Department, 42317- 8599, Al Madinah Al Munawwarah, Saudi Arabia h Botany and Microbiology Department, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Giza, 12613, Egypt i Department of Entomology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Depalpur Campus, Okara, Pakistan j Entomological Research Institute, Ayub Agriculture Research Institute, Faisalabad, Pakistan k Assiut University, Faculty of Science, Botany and Microbiology Department, Assiut, 71516, Egypt A R T I C L E INFO Keywords: Biotrophic pathogens Defense Pepper Transcriptional regulation ABSTRACT Induction of stress-related genes is primarily reckoned as a major step in plant responses to any stress. The plant genomes possess multiple types of transcription factors (TFs) belonging to diverse families and many of them are unique to plants. The TFs are regulators of transcriptional reprogramming linked with stress responses in plants. TF gene(s) frequently retorts to numerous stresses and then their respective polypeptides may contribute in the positive or negative regulation of apparently dissimilar processes. Many plant TFs are induced by biotrophic as well as necrotrophic pathogens. Functional characterization of TFs provides solid evidence of their role in the regulation of plant defense responses. This advocates the fact that TF does not work alone, but the immune response to pathogens mediated by it, is strongly linked to enhancing the effect of TF on the transcription of defense associated genes. The plant-plant difference in transcriptional responses of TF and Defense associated genes highlights that a TF may regulate defense positively or negatively. This diversity in responses is proof of functional diversity among TFs. Their functions in plant immunity and abiotic stress tolerance in plants have been characterized but still need investigations in Capsicum annuum. This article focuses upon recent progress in our understanding of the role of the TFs involved in Capsicum defense against Microbial pathogenesis especially against bacterial pathogens. We have dissected collateral interactions between TFs, proteins and nuclear re- ceptors working for Capsicum defense. Besides, we have also reviewed and discussed the topical concepts of transcriptional intervention for controlling the activity of TFs. 1. Introduction Plant stress-tolerance to abiotic and biotic stresses is controlled by multifarious signaling cascades [1]. Signifcant overlaps among gene expression patterns during different stress conditions reveal the induc- tion of genes individually as well as collectively. This coordinated in- duction of genes and regulation of plant responses unveil complex regulatory mechanisms, necessary for survival in changing environment [2,3]. Induction of stress-related genes primarily takes place at the transcriptional level and is reckoned as a major step in plant responses to any stress [4]. Therefore, plant genomes are blessed with multiple types of transcription factors (TFs), belonging to diverse gene families and many of them are unique to plants [5]. The TFs regulate transcriptional reprogramming, linked with stress responses in plants [6]. Any * Corresponding author. ** Corresponding author. E-mail addresses: alinoman@gcuf.edu.pk (A. Noman), aqeelbutt99@gmail.com (M. Aqeel). Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Physiological and Molecular Plant Pathology journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/pmpp https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmpp.2020.101548 Received 20 July 2020; Received in revised form 21 August 2020; Accepted 26 August 2020