The Effects of Plant Secondary Compounds on Herbivorous Insects

Plants have developed mechanical and chemical defense strategies that are effective against herbivores. Plants contain chemicals that are known as secondary metabolites (allelochemical) and these chemicals do not directly involve in organisms’ reproduction and growth, on the other hand, they affect...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Oğuzhan Yanar, Elif Fatma Topkara
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Hasan Eleroğlu 2017-02-01
Series:Turkish Journal of Agriculture: Food Science and Technology
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Online Access:http://www.agrifoodscience.com/index.php/TURJAF/article/view/987
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Summary:Plants have developed mechanical and chemical defense strategies that are effective against herbivores. Plants contain chemicals that are known as secondary metabolites (allelochemical) and these chemicals do not directly involve in organisms’ reproduction and growth, on the other hand, they affect survival, growth and behavior of species. These compounds usually take ecological tasks and plants use these compounds against diseases, parasites, and predators for interspecies competition. It is known through the observations on feeding of herbivorous insects that these compounds act as deterrent chemicals or they are toxic against them. Feeding is one of the most fundamental and the most important behaviors for herbivorous insects. Even though host plant preference of herbivores is partially depend on nutrients, this behavior greatly depends on secondary chemistry of plants. Effects of secondary compounds on herbivorous insects can be positive or negative.
ISSN:2148-127X