Quote:
Originally Posted by HantsomeOrchids
Humans have a built in laboratory system that allows us to analyse pathogens and on the spot manufacture brand new specific poisons called antibodies. Plants dont have that and if they catch a disease their only means of defense is to seal it off and drop the infected bit, akin to us amputating a limb.
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The immune system is basically a "network," the fact that plants don't have adaptive immune systems doesn't mean that the core principle isn't the same: keeping the network running efficiently. So ultimately that means encouraging tip-top metabolic function and reducing disease pressure.
Arguably, the fact that plants have the ability to firewall their diseases by sealing them off can be an advantage, we don't have that. We also don't grow bigger by bursting our tissues with newly formed body parts. So this is arguing about the mechanism, but I think the core principle is that, regardless of mechanism, immune function is strengthened by enhancing the plants different metabolic processes through appropriate care and adjustments based on your environment.