Involved in ethylene- and salicylic acid-dependent cell death control associated with cells in the vicinity of vascular bundles. Expressed in response to pathogen infection (e.g. Pseudomonas syringae) at the vicinity of the hypersensitive lesions. Lesion mimic mutant with a light conditional appearance of propagative hypersensitive response (HR)-like lesions along the vascular system, and associated with expression of defense genes, production of high levels of salicylic acid (SA) (PubMed:15269331). Increased resistance to virulent and avirulent strains of Pseudomonas syringae pv tomato (PubMed:15269331, PubMed:17720753). This necrosis symptoms are ethylene-dependent and associated with ethylene accumulation (PubMed:17720753).