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Morphological and Chemical Changes that Evolve in the Development of Host Plant Resistance to Insects
Author(s) -
Maxwell Fowden G.
Publication year - 1972
Publication title -
journal of environmental quality
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.888
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1537-2537
pISSN - 0047-2425
DOI - 10.2134/jeq1972.00472425000100030012x
Subject(s) - biology , host (biology) , pest analysis , resistance (ecology) , insect , selection (genetic algorithm) , ecology , botany , artificial intelligence , computer science
The hypothesis that insects are evolving from a polyphagous to a monophagous state is presented. Chemical and physical factors involved in host selection by an insect are discussed. Certain morphological and chemical factors in plants have evolved as protective mechanisms against specific insects which have allowed survival. Man has genetically manipulated certain of these chemical and morphological factors to impart resistance to specific pests. In some cases, the factor or factors responsible for resistance to one pest may in themselves, or else through unknown linked factors, create greater susceptibility to another pest. Examples are given.