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      Glandular Trichome Rupture in Tomato Plants is an Ultra-Fast & Sensitive Defense Mechanism Against Insects

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          Abstract

          Trichomes, specialized hair-like structures on the surfaces of many plants, play a crucial role in defense against herbivorous insects. We investigated the biomechanics of type VI glandular trichomes in cultivated tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) and its wild relative (Solanum habrochaites). Using micropipette force sensors and high-speed imaging, we uncovered the rupture mechanics underlying gland bursting, highlighting the small forces and short time-scales involved in this process. Additionally, we observed larvae of the Western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis), a major pest in tomato cultivation, inadvertently triggering trichome rupture and accumulating glandular secretions on their bodies. These findings demonstrate how rapid gland bursting and the fluid dynamics of glandular secretions act as an efficient and swift plant defense mechanism against insect herbivory.

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          Author and article information

          Journal
          18 December 2024
          Article
          2412.14507
          8450d349-00a4-435b-aba5-47703f48501f

          http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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          Custom metadata
          physics.bio-ph

          Biophysics
          Biophysics

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