Table of Contents
How do plants chemically defend themselves?
The first line of defense in plants is an intact and impenetrable barrier composed of bark and a waxy cuticle. Both protect plants against pathogens. In addition to secondary metabolites, plants produce antimicrobial chemicals, antimicrobial proteins, and antimicrobial enzymes that are able to fight the pathogens.
What is an example of chemical defenses?
Examples of common secondary metabolites used as chemical defenses by plants include alkaloids, phenols, and terpenes. Defensive chemicals used to avoid consumption may be broadly characterized as either toxins or substances reducing the digestive capacity of herbivores.
What is the function of the chemical defenses?
Defensive chemicals are substances utilized by prey to reduce predation risk. These chemicals include noxious, odiferous, indigestible, toxic, or venomous substances that repel, deter, injure/harm, distract, or prevent detection by predators.
What are defenses that a plant does?
Structural defenses. Once herbivores find and access a plant, structural defenses can discourage consumption. These structures include spinescence, trichomes, thick leaves, and microscopic sand- and needle-like particles inside plant tissues (Figures 3 and 4).
How do plants chemically defend themselves from 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 …
Which of the following is an example of a plant chemical defense?
Some of the examples of chemical defenses are: Production of Latex (Calotropis gigantia), Production of Alkaloids like Nicotine, Caffine, Morphine, Cocaine etc. These alkaloids will have Pharmacological affects on Humans and Animals when they consume them.
Which of the following is an example of plant chemical defense against herbivores?
Sclerophylly refers to the hardened leaves, and plays an active role in plant defense against herbivores by reducing the palatability and digestibility of the tissues, thereby, reducing the herbivore damage. Spinescence includes plant structures such as spines, thorns and prickles.
What kind of chemicals do plants use to defend against herbivory?
Idioblasts (“crazy cells”) help protect plants against herbivory because they contain toxic chemicals or sharp crystals that tear the mouthparts of insects and mammals as they feed. There are many classes of idioblasts including pigmented cells, sclereids, crystalliferous cells, and silica cells.
What are nonspecific chemical defenses?
Nonspecific defenses include anatomic barriers, inhibitors, phagocytosis, fever, inflammation, and IFN. Specific defenses include antibody (more…) Although interferon was first recognized as an extraordinarily potent antiviral agent, it was found subsequently to affect other vital cell and body functions.
What are some examples of innate defense mechanisms that are chemical in nature?
Clinical Focus: Angela, Part 2
| Table 3. Chemical Defenses of Nonspecific Innate Immunity | ||
|---|---|---|
| Defense | Examples | Function |
| Chemicals and enzymes in body fluids | Digestive enzymes and bile | Kill bacteria |
| Lactoferrin and transferrin | Bind and sequester iron, inhibiting bacterial growth | |
| Surfactant in lungs | Kills bacteria |
How does plant defend themselves against plant 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 do plants produce chemicals?
Some plants produce chemicals that act as herbicides to inhibit the growth of competing plants, such as the salicylic acid produced by willows. Other plants produce substances that deter browsing by insects and herbivores. Many of these plants have been used to create well-known drugs used for medicinal purposes.