plants
Title: plants
Category: Science & Technology | Words: 1125 | Pages: 4.8 (approximately 235 words/page)
plants
Zinc hyperaccumulation in Thlaspi caerulescens
as a chemical defence against herbivory
ABSTRACT
Thlaspi caerulescens is one of several plant species known to
accumulate heavy metals in excess of 2% of their above ground plant
biomass. The reasons for hyperaccumulation are unknown, but
several studies conclude that it may be a plant chemical defence.
This has been of interest to biologists because these metals are
usually toxic. The accumulation of these metals may serve as a
model …
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showed last 75 words of 1125 total…defence mechanisms because of the increased fitness
it allows for these plants. Herbivores were given a choice between
accumulating and non-accumulating S. polygaloides, and the fitness
of non-hyperaccumulating plants was 0.42 of that of the
hyperaccumulators. Selective pressures could favor the evolution
of these plants.
All of these findings suggest that plants accumulating heavy
metals may be utilizing an effective defence against herbivory and
pathogens. They may also be good examples of the methods of
coevolution.
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