Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Defenses Against Pathogens and Herbivores02:26

Defenses Against Pathogens and Herbivores

Plants present a rich source of nutrients for many organisms, making it a target for herbivores and infectious agents. Plants, though lacking a proper immune system, have developed an array of constitutive and inducible defenses to fend off these attacks.
Epiphytes, Parasites, and Carnivores02:40

Epiphytes, Parasites, and Carnivores

Plants often form mutualistic relationships with soil-dwelling fungi or bacteria to enhance their roots’ nutrient uptake ability. Root-colonizing fungi (e.g., mycorrhizae) increase a plant’s root surface area, which promotes nutrient absorption. While root-colonizing, nitrogen-fixing bacteria (e.g., rhizobia) convert atmospheric nitrogen (N2) into ammonia (NH3), making nitrogen available to plants for various biological functions. For example, nitrogen is essential for the biosynthesis of the...
Predator-Prey Interactions02:39

Predator-Prey Interactions

Predators consume prey for energy. Predators that acquire prey and prey that avoid predation both increase their chances of survival and reproduction (i.e., fitness). Routine predator-prey interactions elicit mutual adaptations that improve predator offenses, such as claws, teeth, and speed, as well as prey defenses, including crypsis, aposematism, and mimicry. Thus, predator-prey interactions resemble an evolutionary arms race.Although predation is commonly associated with carnivory, for...
Microbial Interactions: Predation01:28

Microbial Interactions: Predation

Microbial predation refers to the process by which one microorganism kills and consumes another to obtain nutrients and energy. It encompasses both bacterial and protozoan predators. This interaction plays a crucial role in shaping microbial communities and regulating nutrient cycling.Bacterial Predators: Epibiotic vs. EndobioticBacterial predators are classified based on their mode of attack as either epibiotic or endobiotic. Epibiotic predators, such as Vampirococcus, attach to the surface of...
Microbe-Plant Interactions01:09

Microbe-Plant Interactions

Microbe-plant interactions represent a dynamic spectrum of associations shaped by intricate chemical signaling. These interactions can be neutral, beneficial, or detrimental, and profoundly influence plant physiology, growth, and ecosystem function. The plant microbiome, comprising bacteria, fungi, archaea, protists, and viruses, plays a pivotal role in mediating these effects through surface colonization, internal colonization, or systemic symbiosis.Mutualistic associations, particularly with...
Symbiosis00:58

Symbiosis

Symbiotic relationships are long-term, close interactions between individuals of different species that affect the distribution and abundance of those species. When a relationship is beneficial to both species, this is called mutualism. When the relationship is beneficial to one species but neither beneficial nor harmful to the other species, this is called commensalism. When one organism is harmed to benefit another, the relationship is known as parasitism. These types of relationships often...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Effects of root proanthocyanidins on mycorrhizal colonization and nitrogen uptake in poplar.

Tree physiology·2025
Same author

Salicylic acid biosynthesis via the PAL pathway requires benzaldehyde synthase and a benzyl salicylate-specific esterase.

The Plant cell·2025
Same author

A dihydrochalcone-specific O-methyltransferase from leaf buds of Populus trichocarpa implicated in bud resin formation.

Journal of experimental botany·2025
Same author

Poplar leaf bud resin metabolomics: seasonal profiling of leaf bud chemistry in Populus trichocarpa provides insight into resin biosynthesis.

Plant & cell physiology·2024
Same author

Tissue and cellular localization of condensed tannins in poplar roots and potential association with nitrogen uptake.

Frontiers in plant science·2024
Same author

CRISPR/Cas9 Disruption of MYB134 and MYB115 in Transgenic Poplar Leads to Differential Reduction of Proanthocyanidin Synthesis in Roots and Leaves.

Plant & cell physiology·2023

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 4, 2026

Herbivore-induced Blueberry Volatiles and Intra-plant Signaling
10:28

Herbivore-induced Blueberry Volatiles and Intra-plant Signaling

Published on: December 18, 2011

Tannins in plant-herbivore interactions.

Raymond V Barbehenn1, C Peter Constabel

  • 1Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1048, USA.

Phytochemistry
|March 1, 2011
PubMed
Summary

Tannins, abundant plant compounds, defend leaves from insects via toxicity, not protein digestion interference. Insect tolerance involves gut defenses, but more research is needed on varied tannin-insect interactions.

Area of Science:

  • Plant biochemistry
  • Insect ecology
  • Chemical ecology

Background:

  • Tannins are abundant plant secondary metabolites, crucial for plant defense against herbivores.
  • Early theories suggested tannins impede protein digestion in insects, but this is now disproven.
  • Tannin toxicity in insects is linked to reactive oxygen species generated through oxidation, particularly in high-pH guts.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the defensive roles of tannins against insect herbivores.
  • To clarify the mechanisms of tannin toxicity and insect tolerance.
  • To identify research gaps and future directions in tannin-herbivore interaction studies.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review and synthesis of existing research on tannins and insect herbivores.

More Related Videos

Detached Leaf Assays to Simplify Gene Expression Studies in Potato During Infestation by Chewing Insect Manduca sexta
05:56

Detached Leaf Assays to Simplify Gene Expression Studies in Potato During Infestation by Chewing Insect Manduca sexta

Published on: May 15, 2019

Characterizing Herbivore Resistance Mechanisms: Spittlebugs on Brachiaria spp. as an Example
06:52

Characterizing Herbivore Resistance Mechanisms: Spittlebugs on Brachiaria spp. as an Example

Published on: June 19, 2011

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 4, 2026

Herbivore-induced Blueberry Volatiles and Intra-plant Signaling
10:28

Herbivore-induced Blueberry Volatiles and Intra-plant Signaling

Published on: December 18, 2011

Detached Leaf Assays to Simplify Gene Expression Studies in Potato During Infestation by Chewing Insect Manduca sexta
05:56

Detached Leaf Assays to Simplify Gene Expression Studies in Potato During Infestation by Chewing Insect Manduca sexta

Published on: May 15, 2019

Characterizing Herbivore Resistance Mechanisms: Spittlebugs on Brachiaria spp. as an Example
06:52

Characterizing Herbivore Resistance Mechanisms: Spittlebugs on Brachiaria spp. as an Example

Published on: June 19, 2011

  • Analysis of biochemical pathways involved in tannin oxidation and detoxification.
  • Discussion of correlative versus manipulative experimental approaches.

    • Main Results:

    • Tannins deter or are toxic to insects, primarily through reactive oxygen species, not by reducing protein digestion.
    • Different tannin types (ellagitannins, gallotannins, condensed tannins) exhibit varying oxidative activity.
    • Insects possess diverse gut defenses (surfactants, high pH, antioxidants, peritrophic envelope) to tolerate tannins.

    Conclusions:

    • Tannins play a significant role in plant defense against insects through toxicity mechanisms.
    • Understanding insect tolerance requires studying gut physiology and biochemical defenses.
    • Future research should employ manipulative experiments and molecular methods to elucidate tannin-insect interactions across diverse insect groups.