2023 Vol. 29 No.1 PP 49-55

https://doi.org/10.33451/florafauna.v29i1pp49-55

A Cognitive Behavioral Defense Mechanism of Plants Against Herbivory

*Priya Dilip Lokare, . Anil Kumar,¹, Kul Bhaskar2², Bristy Borgohain², Kamal Kant Patra³, Sneh Agrawalr⁴, Sangita Jadhav⁵, Devidas Narhar Patil⁶and Hrishikesh Haribhau Khodade ⁷

Department of Botany,
Loknete Ramdas Patil Dhumal Arts,
Science and Commerce College, RAHURI-413705,
AHMEDNAGAR (MAHARASHTRA) INDIA
¹Department of Botany,
DDU Gorakhpur University, GORAKHPUR-273009 (UP) INDIA
²Department of Botany,
Government Degree College, Sukrauli-274207, KUSHINAGAR (UP) INDIA
³Nalanda College, BIHARSHARIF-803101, NALANDA (BIHAR) INDIA
⁴Department of Periodontology
Bharati Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be university) Dental College and Hospital Sector-7,
BELPADA, NAVI MUMBAI-400061 (MAHARASTRA) INDIA
⁵Department of Botany, S.N. Arts, D.J.Malpani Commerce and B.N.Sarda Science College
Sangamner (Autonomous) Tal-SANGAMNER Dist-AHMEDNAGAR (MAHARASHTRA) INDIA
BELPADA, NAVI MUMBAI-400061 (MAHARASTRA) INDIA
⁶Department of Botany,
Bhartiya Jain Sanghatana’s Arts, Science and Commerce College,
WAGHOLI-412207 (MAHARASTRA) INDIA
⁷S. M. Joshi College, HADAPSAR-411028, PUNE (MS) INDIA
*Corresponding Author : E-mail: priyalokare2@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

Plants interactions with animals, insects, and pathogens is the need of ecosystem. Herbivory is the most critical part of food chain. In an ecosystem, the relationship between prey and predators and mutualism are inevitable breathing junctions. Plants are eaten by herbivores, but plants in return have evolved in such a way which affect herbivores and other organisms that come in contact with them at every level from basic biological interaction to genetics. In other words, plants have adapted strategies to defend themselves against herbivory.Mainly, there are two defense strategies, 1) direct defense responses and 2) indirect defense responses. The former one includes production of such enzymes which reduce the digestibility of consumed food,reallocation of resources, morphological adaptations, and the production of specialized bioactive molecules such as alkaloids, phenolics, terpenoids, glucosinolates.The later one includes the production of volatiles and extrafloral nectars to attract pollinators and other microorganisms to reduce enemy pressure and for their own benefit, pollination. All these strategies are to intoxicate or repel the insect herbivores and to reduce the herbivory.

KEY WORDS : Cognitive adaptations, Defense mechanisms, Herbivory.