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New Way of Protecting Tomatoes From Deadly Bacteria Lets Plants Sniff Out Danger Naturally
By Good News NetworkAug 10, 2024
A new spray that protects tomatoes from a deadly bacteria has been dubbed the ‘aroma of resistance’ because it allows plants to ‘sniff out’ the danger naturally.
Spanish scientists found that an aromatic compound called alpha-terpineol effectively protects plants from Pseudomonas syringe, a pathogenic bacterium that causes severe damage to crops.
The research team calls it a “significant breakthrough” that could improve crop management by providing environmentally-friendly protection that is highly effective.
Study co-author Julia Pérez-Pérez explained that, like human interactions, plants have their own way of communication and self-defense. They emit volatile compounds to alert their neighbors to danger. The nearby plants use their sense of smell which perceives the message.
“Imagine a field of tomatoes where the bacteria penetrate the leaves of a plant through the stomata,” said Ms. Pérez-Pérez, a PhD student at Valencia Polytechnic University.
“As it spreads, the plant defends itself from attack by releasing volatiles such as terpene.
“Other parts of the plant itself and neighboring plants ‘smell’ this chemical message and quickly close their stomata, preventing the entry of the pathogen and thus protecting the crop.”
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New Way of Protecting Tomatoes From Deadly Bacteria Lets Plants Sniff Out Danger Naturally
New spray made of alpha-terpineol protects tomatoes from deadly bacteria by allowing plants to ‘sniff out’ the danger naturally.
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