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Review
. 2012 May;17(5):303-10.
doi: 10.1016/j.tplants.2012.03.012. Epub 2012 Apr 12.

The specificity of herbivore-induced plant volatiles in attracting herbivore enemies

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Review

The specificity of herbivore-induced plant volatiles in attracting herbivore enemies

Andrea Clavijo McCormick et al. Trends Plant Sci. 2012 May.

Abstract

Plants respond to herbivore attack by emitting complex mixtures of volatile compounds that attract herbivore enemies, both predators and parasitoids. Here, we explore whether these mixtures provide significant value as information cues in herbivore enemy attraction. Our survey indicates that blends of volatiles released from damaged plants are frequently specific depending on the type of herbivore and its age, abundance and feeding guild. The sensory perception of plant volatiles by herbivore enemies is also specific, according to the latest evidence from studies of insect olfaction. Thus, enemies do exploit the detailed information provided by plant volatile mixtures in searching for their prey or hosts, but this varies with the diet breadth of the enemy.

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