plant defense against insect herbivores

Structural traits such as spines and thorns (spinescence), trichomes (pubescence), toughened or hardened leaves (sclerophylly), incorporation of granular minerals into plant tissues, and divaricated branching (shoots with wiry stems produced at wide axillary angles) play a leading role in plant protection against ...

1. How does a plant defend against herbivores?
2. How do some plants protect themselves from animals and insects?
3. What are two chemical defenses of plants?
4. What are plant defenses?
5. How do plants defend themselves chemically?
6. How do plants defend against insects?
7. How do plants defend themselves against humans?
8. Do all plants need roots to obtain nutrients in order to live and grow?
9. How do plants protect themselves from weather?
10. How do plants respond to disease?
11. How do plants defend against pathogens?
12. Why are plants with shallow roots get easily damaged by some herbivores?
13. How do plants use nitrates?
14. How does a plant or animal respond to infection?
15. Do plants have antibodies?
16. Can plants fight diseases?
17. Which toxic is used to protect plants from insects?
18. Why do plants have natural odors?
19. What can kill insects?
20. How do plants respond to high salt stress?
21. Why do we need to counter attack insects of your plant or crop?

How does a plant defend against herbivores?

The first line of defense in plants is an intact and impenetrable barrier composed of bark and a waxy cuticle. Both protect plants against herbivores. Other adaptations against herbivores include hard shells, thorns (modified branches), and spines (modified leaves).

How do some plants protect themselves from animals and insects?

To keep small predators at bay, many plants have a mat of fine hairs on the surface of their leaves. To deter larger animals some plants have sharp spines or thorns, while others have leaves that sting or are bitter to taste. Cacti spines can be up to 6in (15cm) long.

What are two chemical defenses of plants?

Plants also draw upon a complex arsenal of small-molecule chemical defenses including terpenoids, alkaloids, phenylpropanoids, glucosinolates, lipids, and nonprotein amino acids [19]. Volatiles which can alert neighbor plants or tissues to potential attacks are promoted by herbivory and are a complex blend.

What are plant defenses?

Plant defense against herbivory or host-plant resistance (HPR) describes a range of adaptations evolved by plants which improve their survival and reproduction by reducing the impact of herbivores. ... These chemical defenses can act as repellents or toxins to herbivores, or reduce plant digestibility.

How do plants defend themselves chemically?

Many plants have an inbuilt defence system that, when activated, releases hydrogen cyanide to ward off insects and fungi. It is directed at the part of the plant under attack. This is what makes bitter almonds, apricots, and apple pips toxic when crushed.

How do plants defend against insects?

Plant structural traits such as leaf surface wax, thorns or trichomes, and cell wall thickness/ and lignification form the first physical barrier to feeding by the herbivores, and the secondary metabolites such act as toxins and also affect growth, development, and digestibility reducers form the next barriers that ...

How do plants defend themselves against humans?

Plant immune system detects bacteria through small fatty acid molecules. Summary: Like humans and animals, plants defend themselves against pathogens with the help of their immune system. ... Like humans and animals, plants defend themselves against pathogens with the help of their immune system.

Do all plants need roots to obtain nutrients in order to live and grow?

This is why they grow down, because the water and minerals needed for growth are below the ground in the soil. They also provide support and help anchor a plant to the ground. Without a strong root system, trees would not be able to stand tall and withstand high winds. Roots can also store food and nutrients.

How do plants protect themselves from weather?

Plants may hold onto dead leaves for insulation, or use deep snow like a blanket to protect against the cold. Some evergreens also have a special valve in their cells. This valve automatically seals off individual frozen cells to prevent a chain reaction of freezing.

How do plants respond to disease?

Plants don't have immune systems, but they do respond to disease. Typically, their first line of defense is the death of cells surrounding infected tissue. This prevents the infection from spreading. Many plants also produce hormones and toxins to fight pathogens.

How do plants defend against pathogens?

Many plants have impenetrable barriers, such as bark and waxy cuticles, or adaptations, such as thorns and spines, to protect them from pathogens. ... Plants produce antimicrobial chemicals, antimicrobial proteins, and antimicrobial enzymes that are able to fight the pathogens.

Why are plants with shallow roots get easily damaged by some herbivores?

Why are plants with shallow roots more easily damaged by some herbivores? Shallow roots do not anchor the plant to the ground and can be easily uprooted. Once the plant is no longer in the ground, the roots are unable to grow back.

How do plants use nitrates?

Plants use nitrates as a supply of nitrogen, which is needed to make proteins for healthy growth. Plants absorb nitrates in water through their roots. Nitrates are present in high levels in plant fertilisers. ... This reduces the plant's ability to photosynthesise and grow properly, which reduces the farmers' crop yield .

How does a plant or animal respond to infection?

Individual plant cells express receptors that recognise pathogen molecules and then trigger defence responses, which can include cell wall thickening, production of anti-microbial compounds and host cell death.

Do plants have antibodies?

Although plants do not naturally make antibodies, the plant-derived antibodies (plantibodies) have been shown to function in the same way as mammalian antibodies.

Can plants fight diseases?

In a small number of cases, plant genes are effective against an entire pathogen species, even though that species that is pathogenic on other genotypes of that host species. Examples include barley MLO against powdery mildew, wheat Lr34 against leaf rust and wheat Yr36 against wheat stripe rust.

Which toxic is used to protect plants from insects?

Pyrethroids are highly active against Lepidoptera pest species, but their speed of action, which leads to rapid knock-down, means they are used successfully in many crops against numerous pests including aphids. Pyrethroids are very useful insecticides as, although toxic to insects, they are harmless to mammals.

Why do plants have natural odors?

Plants detect a class of odor molecules known as volatile organic compounds, which are essential for many plant survival strategies, including attracting birds and bees, deterring pests, and reacting to disease in nearby plants. These compounds also give essential oils their distinctive scents.

What can kill insects?

Insects such as roaches, termites and ants among others are repelled by strong scents and essential oils. Tea tree oil, lavender oil and peppermint oil are just a few oils that have been shown to repel and even kill insects.

How do plants respond to high salt stress?

The earliest response of plants to salt stress is reduction in the rate of leaf surface expansion followed by cessation of expansion as the stress intensifies but growth resumes when the stress is relieved. Metabolic processes like photosynthesis, protein synthesis and lipid metabolisms are affected due to salt stress.

Why do we need to counter attack insects of your plant or crop?

More than 10,000 species of plant-eating insects and 3,000 species of roundworms can attack farmers' crops around the world leaving food damaged and inedible. ... Fungicides: These destroy or prevent the growth of disease-causing fungi.