Tomatoes’ chemical weapons

By Chemistry World2014-07-03T00:00:00

Source: © Junji Takabayashi

Plant signals warn other plants of insect attack

Plant signals not only warn other plants of insect attack but can be used to defend against them

Tomato plants not only take heed of their neighbours chemical ‘warnings’ but actually convert the signals into substances to defend themselves against imminent insect attack, researchers in Japan have discovered. They showed healthy plants absorb a volatile chemical given off by nearby caterpillar-infested ones, and convert it into a defensive compound that is toxic to insects.

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