Insect Plant Interaction with Reference to Secondary Metabolites: A Review Afroz Mansura, Rahman Mamunur Md.*, Md. Amin Ruhul 1Department of Entomology, Faculty of Agriculture, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Gazipur, Bangladesh. *Corresponding Author: Md. Mamunur Rahman, Department of Entomology, Faculty of Agriculture, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Gazipur, Bangladesh. Email: mamunur111@gmail.com
Online published on 24 January, 2022. Abstract Plant and herbivorous insect share a contradictory but everlasting relationship. To cope with the herbivores, plant invested its energy in the production of various defensive chemicals which are known as plant secondary metabolites (PSMs). During coevolution with plants, insects also adapted themselves to counter plant defensive mechanisms. The secreted saliva and ovipositional fluids of insects induce the production of secondary metabolites in plants. Plants also produce compounds constitutively in the tissues that are susceptible to insect attack. These compounds reduce insect growth and development of insects through interfering with the developmental phases, acting as feeding deterrent, reducing nutritive value, affecting protein digestion and the production of substances toxic to them. On the contrary, insect's adaptations to PSMs include the detoxification f plant toxins, conversion of the toxic compounds into conducible form for its growth and development, development of feeding choice based on the concentration of PSMs, quicker absorption and elimination as feces and obtaining the help of symbiotic intestinal microorganismto inactivate toxic materials. Furthermore, insects also utilize PSMs as chemical cues mediated through their chemoreceptive systems. The selection of host plants by monophagous insect is sometimes concentrated on the production of particular PSMs. Secondary metabolites also act as attractant to insect pollinators by exhibiting distinctive odors. Insectsalso store toxic PSMs which are used by them against their predators and in giving protection to eggs. However, this intrinsic capability of plants to produce defensive chemicalsinresponse to insect attack should be explored to a wide extent to optimize the performanceof PSMs. Top Keywords Chemoreceptor, Feeding deterrent, Herbivorous insects, Insect adaptations, Plant secondary metabolites. Top |