Negative regulator of programmed cell death and hypersensitive response (HR). Positive regulator of callus differentiation. By light. Down-regulated by dark. Plants silencing LSD1 display a lesion-mimic phenotype, increased pathogen induction of PR1, enhanced resistance to virulent rice blast fungus and accelerated and intensified hypersensitive response to avirulent pathogens. Plants overexpressing LSD1 show increased content of chlorophyll b and enhanced resistance to virulent rice blast fungus. Callus overexpressing LSD1 shows accelerated differentiation and plant regeneration.