Induced Defenses against Herbivory

Small molecule carboxylates are an important class of compounds that plants produce to attract pollinators,44 defend against herbivory,45 7 regulate the cell cycle,48,49 and induce defense responses.50 5 Often these compounds are esterified and volatilized. Plants utilize the emission of volatile esters as chemoattractants and signaling molecules. Classes of volatile compounds include the salicylates and jasmonates, which are ubiquitously distributed in the plant kingdom. Jasmonic acid, salicylic acid, and their methyl ester derivatives, are intimately involved in cell regulation and help control such developmental processes as seed germination, flower development, fruit development, and senescence.14,17,53... 

Nicotine biosynthesis is localized in the roots of Nicotiana plants, and the alkaloids are transported to the shoots in the xylem stream,70 mainly to young leaves and stems and the reproductive parts of the plant.72 At first glance, the costly transport mechanisms seem to be a disadvantage, as there is a time lag of 10 hr from time of induction until the increase of nicotine production.73 The roots, however, as the site of synthesis are well protected against herbivory and continue the production, even when up to 88% of the total leave area is removed.74 Optimization of the cost-value ratio seems to be the reason for the inducible defense acting as a cost-saving... 

Plants contain plant secondary metabolites (PSMs) that confer resistance against herbivores and pathogens. The largest classes of PSMs are phenolics, terpenoids, and alkaloids. We distinguish constitutive and induced chemical defenses. The first occur in an entire plant or some of its parts as normal constituents, the latter are formed in response to herbivory or some other trauma to the plant. In some cases mere clipping induces defenses, in others additional factors, such as those in saliva of a herbivore are essential. 

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