Knowra Plant defense against herbivory Plant defense against herbivory Structural, chemical, and ecological traits that reduce plant damage from animals that feed on plants. Defenses can deter attackers, limit tissue loss, or recruit organisms that protect the plant.
Plant structural defenses : Physical plant traits, such as spines, trichomes, and tough leaves, that impede herbivore feeding. Spines and tough tissues directly obstruct chewing and access to vulnerable plant parts.
Crop resistance to insect pests : Heritable crop traits that reduce insect feeding, survival, or reproduction. Breeders select resistance traits to reduce damage without relying solely on pesticides.
Acacia–ant mutualism : An interaction in which some acacias provide ants with food and shelter, while ants defend the plants. The plant outsources defense to aggressive ants in exchange for resources.
Plant–herbivore coevolution : Reciprocal evolutionary change between plants and the animals that consume them. Defenses and counter-adaptations can evolve in response to one another.
Plant secondary metabolites : Compounds plants produce that are not directly required for growth or reproduction, often affecting herbivores and pathogens. Many chemical defenses deter feeding, poison herbivores, or reduce digestion.
Integrated pest management : A pest-control strategy combining biological, cultural, physical, and chemical methods to limit harm. Plant defenses complement monitoring and other control methods in crop protection.
Nicotiana attenuata : A wild tobacco species widely studied for its responses to insect herbivory. Its jasmonate signaling and volatile emissions reveal interacting defense mechanisms.
Herbivory : The consumption of living plant or algal tissue by animals. Plant defense is an evolutionary response to the costs of herbivory.
Plant volatile organic compounds : Carbon-containing chemicals that readily evaporate from plants and can carry signals through the air. Herbivore-damaged plants can emit volatiles that attract enemies of the attacker.
Biological pest control : The use of living organisms to suppress pest populations. Plant traits that recruit predators or parasitoids can strengthen biological control.
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