Question #172804
Name a few different plant defense strategies. What is the difference between an induced and a constitutive defense in plants?
Expert's answer
Plant defence strategies comprise:
1. Mechanical defence: bark, waxy cuticles, thorns, spines, etc.
2. Chemical defence: toxins and alkaloids (i.e., volatile oils of mint, quinine, caffeine, glycol cyanide), enzymes, etc.
A constitutive defence mainly prevents infections and includes mechanical barriers and acts constitutively whereas an induced defence is activated only at the introduction of the pathogen or attack of the predator.
