Tomato Aroma Protects Against Pests and Drought

Jan-16-19 A compound inspired by the aroma emitted by the tomato plant could help protect other plants from pests and droughts.

One of the ways tomatoes ward off attacks by bacteria is by releasing the volatile compound hexenyl buryrate, which causes the plant’s stomata to close. This in turn not only keeps pests from entering the plant, it also helps keep moisture from escaping—protecting the plant during times of drought. To allow other plants to take advantage of this defense, the team from the Institute for Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology created a non-toxic synthetic form of HB that can be sprayed on plants. In tests, the treated plants were able to better withstand both droughts and pests, and the compound could even allow farmers to control ripening times to coincide with market demands.

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