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A-Level Biology OCR A

Insects E.G Chemical Plants Animals Toxic Fungi Describe

Three chemical defenses plants have against herbivory are tannins (bitter taste, toxic to insects), alkaloids (affect animal metabolism, toxic to fungi and insects), and terpenoids (toxic to insects and fungi).

Trois défenses chimiques des plantes contre l'herbivorie sont les tanins (goût amer, toxiques pour les insectes), les alcaloïdes (affectent le métabolisme, toxiques pour les champignons et insectes) et les terpénoïdes (toxiques pour les insectes et champignons).

Front Describe 3 chemical defences plants have against herbivory.
Back Chemical defences:
  • Tannins - bitter taste which puts animals off from eating leaves, toxic to insects by deactivating digestive enzymes in saliva (e.g. acacia trees)
  • Alkaloids - affect metabolism of animals that take them (e.g. caffeine, nicotine, morphine, cocaine), caffeine is toxic to fungi and insects & prevents germination of seeds of other plants in soil
  • Terpenoids - act as toxins to insects and fungi (e.g. pyrethrin in chrysanthemums which acts as neurotoxin on insects & citronella in lemon grass repels insects)

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