Plant responses to herbivory

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Name some physical defences that plants have to protect themselves from herbivores
Barbs, thorns, spikey leaves, fibrous inedible tissues
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Name 3 chemicals that plants use in response to herbivory
Tannins, alkaloids and terpenoids
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Tannins
Part of a group of compounds called phenols, very bitter taste, toxic to insects as they bind to the digestive enzymes in saliva inactivating them
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Alkaloids
Bitter tasting nitrogenous compound, affects many animals metabolisms and can sometimes poison them, caffeine nicotine morphine and cocaine are examples of these
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How does a coffee bush also use caffeine to protect against competing plants?
Caffeine from the coffee bush spreads into the soil which prevents seed germination of other plants
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Terpenoids
A large group of compounds that are produced by plants that act as toxins, for example some can act as neurotoxins to insects interfering with their nervous system
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What is a pheromone?
A chemical which affects the way members of the same species socialise with each other
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What do plants use pheromones for?
Usually to defend themselves and they can sometimes use it to warn other plants
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How does a maple tree use pheromones to protect itself?
When a maple tree is under attack by insects it releases pheromones, these are absorbed by the other leaves of the plant triggering them to protect themselves and prepare for attack, e.g. they make callose
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What is a volatile organic compound (VOC)?
A chemical produced which attracts other organisms
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Why are VOCs useful?
Because if something is under attack the plant can produce VOC's which attracts the predator of whatever is attacking them, in turn protecting themselves
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Give an example of plants using VOC's
When cabbage is under attack by a white cabbage caterpillar it produces VOC which attracts the parasitic wasp that lays eggs in that type of caterpillar and kills it, it also deters the white cabbage butterflies from laying eggs on them
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What else can VOC's do?
It can also warn other plants so they can also start producing the VOC's without being under attack
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Name a plant that protects itself by folding in response to touch
Mimosa Pudica
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Why is being sensitive to touch a defense?
Because it means the leaves can fold in and collapse revealing its spiky stem, this can frighten off herbivores and dislodge insects from their leaves
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

Name 3 chemicals that plants use in response to herbivory

Back

Tannins, alkaloids and terpenoids

Card 3

Front

Tannins

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

Alkaloids

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

How does a coffee bush also use caffeine to protect against competing plants?

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
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