Starting points In the never ending battle between plant and herbivory insects researchers search for ways to make plants less attractive. Like Dutch researchers show, this starts with the analysis of how insects manages to dodge the plant defence systems. Herbivory insects excrete with their saliva proteins that slow down the plant defence reaction. JustContinue reading “Starting points”
Tag Archives: Plant defence
Closing the backdoor
Closing the backdoor Fusarium is a major threat to agriculture. With resistance giving only temporary relieve. Now Dutch researchers report in Plant Biotechnology Journal that they have found a way for plants to lose susceptibility. The soil fungus Fusarium infects lots of crops, like tomato, cucumber, and banana. Frustratingly, once infected there is nothing aContinue reading “Closing the backdoor”
Double defence
Double defence The parasitic plant Striga, or witchweed, is a disaster for lots of sub-Sahara African farmers. Striga does what any parasite does, it taps water and nutrients from its host. Something that in agriculture result in big losses. Sometimes the whole harvest is lost. Now Kenyan researchers together with researchers from the USA, GermanyContinue reading “Double defence”
Alternative on ants
Alternative on ants Plants do all they can do to prevent getting eaten. In this regard do the tropical tococa bush and ants work together. Tococa gives the ants a home and as thanks the ants keep the plant free of herbivorous insects and pathogens. But even without an ant colony are the tococa plantsContinue reading “Alternative on ants”
Plant en Zo 