In Arabidopsis, resistance to Turnip Crinkle Virus (TCV) depends on the resistance (R) gene, HRT, and the recessive locus rrt. Resistance also depends on salicylic acid (SA), EDS1, and PAD4. Exogenous application of SA confers resistance in RRT-containing plants by increasing HRT transcript levels in a PAD4-dependent manner. Here we report that reduction of oleic acid (18:1) can also induce HRT gene expression and confer resistance to TCV. However, the 18:1-regulated pathway is independent of SA, rrt, EDS1, and PAD4. Reducing the levels of 18:1, via a mutation in the SSI2-encoded stearoyl-acyl carrier protein-desaturase, or by exogenous application of glycerol, increased transcript levels of HRT as well as several other R genes. Second-site mutations in the ACT1-encoded glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase or GLY1-encoded glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase restored 18:1 levels in HRT ssi2 plants and reestablished a dependence on rrt. Resistance to TCV and HRT gene expression in HRT act1 plants was inducible by SA but not by glycerol, whereas that in HRT pad4 plants was inducible by glycerol but not by SA. The low 18:1-mediated induction of R gene expression was also dependent on ACT1 but independent of EDS1, PAD4, and RAR1. Intriguingly, TCV inoculation did not activate this 18:1-regulated pathway in HRT plants, but instead resulted in the induction of several genes that encode 18:1-synthesizing isozymes. These results suggest that the 18:1-regulated pathway may be specifically targeted during pathogen infection and that altering 18:1 levels may serve as a unique strategy for promoting disease resistance.glycerol ͉ salicylic acid ͉ stearoyl-acyl carrier protein-desaturase ͉ Turnip Crinkle Virus ͉ ssi2 P lants respond to pathogen perception by triggering a cascade of responses. Perception involves strain-specific detection of a pathogen-encoded elicitor, through direct or indirect interaction, with the corresponding resistance (R) gene product. Such an interaction (also known as incompatible interaction) triggers one or more defense signaling pathways and is often associated with the induction of the hypersensitive response (HR) at the site of pathogen entry. HR is one of the first visible manifestations of the host-induced defense response and is thought to prevent development and movement of the pathogen by inducing deliberate death of the infected cells. R protein-mediated recognition of pathogen can also lead to the accumulation of various phytohormones including salicylic acid (SA), jasmonic acid, and/or ethylene, which in turn signal the activation of defense gene expression. Each hormone activates a specific pathway, and these act individually, synergistically, or antagonistically, depending on the pathogen involved, the ultimate effect of which confers disease resistance and prevents spread of the pathogen to uninoculated parts of the plant.Several components of the SA-mediated pathway have been identified, mutations in which lead to enhanced susceptibility to various pathogens [supporting information (SI...