Plants and herbivores have co-evolved together for 350 million years. Plants have evolved many defense mechanisms against insect herbivory. Such defenses can be broadly classified into two categories: (1) permanent, constitutive defenses, and (2) temporary, inducible defenses.[1] Both types are achieved through similar means but differ in that constitutive defenses are present before an herbivore attacks, while induced defenses are activated only when attacks occur.[2][3][4] In addition to constitutive defenses, initiation of specific defense responses to herbivory is an important strategy for plant persistence and survival.[1]
- ^ a b Karban R, Baldwin IT. Induced responses to herbivory. Chicago: Chicago University Press; 1997.
- ^ Chen MS. Inducible direct plant defence against insect herbivores: a review. Insect Science. 2008;15:101-14.
- ^ Dicke M, van Poecke RMP, de Boer JG. Inducible indirect defence of plants: from mechanisms to ecological functions. Basic and Applied Ecology. 2003;4:27-42.
- ^ Gatehouse JA. Plant resistance towards insect herbivores: a dynamic interaction. New Phytologist. 2002;156:145-69.