Indian researchers discover new plant protein that warns leaves of insect attacks

Researchers at the National Institute of Plant Genome Research in New Delhi have found a new protein that helps plants warn healthy leaves when an insect attacks another part of the plant. While animals can run away or fight when facing danger, plants lack a nervous system and cannot move away from threats. When an insect bites a single leaf, an alarm travels through the plant and reaches undamaged leaves within minutes. This discovery shows that plants use intricate systems to protect themselves from insects and herbivores that feed on them. Scientists point out that understanding these natural alarm systems could help in creating better crop chemicals to protect food supplies from pests.

Context

Insect pests cause roughly 20% of global annual crop losses, a figure projected to rise with warming, and crop protection still leans heavily on chemical insecticides. Learning how plants sense attack could point to crops that defend themselves better.