health
Beans use an immune receptor to call in airstrikes on caterpillars
When they’re being eaten, bean plants release chemicals that draw in parasitic wasps.
TL;DR
- Scientists identified an inceptin receptor in common bean plants that detects In11, a peptide fragment from caterpillar saliva.
- When In11 binds to the receptor, the plant initiates immune responses and releases specific volatile organic compounds.
- These airborne signals attract predatory wasps, which then prey on the caterpillars feeding on the plant.
- Plants lacking a functional inceptin receptor show significantly higher caterpillar growth rates and fail to attract wasps.
- This discovery could lead to new, targeted crop protection strategies using plant's natural defense mechanisms, reducing reliance on chemical pesticides.