Primary Metabolic Response of to Simulated Specialist Herbivory under Elevated CO Conditions.

This study explores how elevated carbon dioxide (CO) levels affects the growth and defense mechanisms of plants. We focused on Bunge (Aristolochiaceae), a wild plant that exhibits growth reduction under elevated CO in the previous study. The plant has Gray (Papilionidae) as a specialist herbivore.

Age-dependent resistance of a perennial herb, against specialist and generalist leaf-chewing herbivores.

Plants need to balance investments in growth and defense throughout their life to increase their fitness. To optimize fitness, levels of defense against herbivores in perennial plants may vary according to plant age and season. However, secondary plant metabolites often have a detrimental effect on generalist herbivores, while many specialists have developed resistance to them.