Jasmonic Acid is the hormone released in plants when they experience damage from herbivores in order to induce defenses. Although damage to plants often results in fewer or less attractive flowers or fruits, recent work has shown that jasmonic acid also induces nectar productions in some systems. When a caterpillar eats a part of a leaf, the plant will produce jasmonic acid to repair itself after the tissue is lost. Simply cutting a leaf will not induce jasmonic acid production because there is an enzyme in the saliva of the caterpillar which induces the production of jasmonic acid. However, spraying jasmonic acid on the plant will increase the production of jasmonic acid, but will not affect the tissue negatively.
Recent comments