Chapter 38.2, Problem 2R

Summary Introduction

To review:

The defenses, which work together, to protect tobacco plant from herbivores.

Introduction:

Plants have various defenses against herbivores. These defenses can be both chemical and mechanical. The chemical defenses used by the plants are usually using a range of chemical substances called secondary metabolites. These metabolites are not used in basic cellular functioning. Rather, they have a protective role. Plants have also evolved induced defenses in case they are attacked by pathogens. Tobacco plants produce a substance known as nicotine which is a secondary metabolite. They also have other induced defenses, which protect the plant against herbivores.