XVI International Botanical Congess
Plants can actively defend themselves against herbivorous by producingvolatiles in response to herbivory. These volatiles act as 'SOS'-signals thatattract carnivorous enemies of the herbivores. This has so far been recorded for more than 20 plant species in 13 families. The carnivores can effectively exterminate the herbivore population and thus provide protection to the plant. The SOS-signals may also influence undamaged downwind neighboring plants that become more resistant to herbivores and more at Plants can emit different odor blends in response to different herbivore species and in doing so they attract specific enemies of the herbivores. I will focus on how plants sense herbivory inflicted by different herbivores and how they respond with specific SOS-signals. Finally, I will discuss the costs and benefits and the evolutionof this plant defense.