Plants use circadian rhythms to prepare for battle with insects
Monday, February 13, 2012 - 21:30
in Biology & Nature
In a study of the molecular underpinnings of plants' pest resistance, biologists have shown that plants use circadian rhythms to both anticipate raids by hungry insects and to time the production of defensive hormones that protect against insect attack. The researchers demonstrated that when the plants' timing was shifted, the plants were defenseless against daytime-feeding caterpillars.