June 2, 2011

Source: ISB June 2011 News Report

Plants and insects have co-existed for at least 400 million years. During this time, plants have evolved numerous strategies to attract insects as pollinators, while deterring them from consuming the plant. One exquisite example of this finely tuned plant-insect interaction is the defensive function of proteinase inhibitors (PIs) in solanaceous plants. Understanding how insects respond to PIs on a case-by-case basis will provide valuable knowledge that may enable the development of PIs as a viable transgenic plant protection technology.

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Website: http://www.isb.vt.edu

Published: June 2, 2011