Consider the following situation: A tomato grower has heard that jasmonic acid can be used to stimulate plant defenses against herbivores. Because jasmonic acid is a naturally occurring compound, he decides he will expose his crops to it instead of using chemical pesticides to protect his crops. Which of the following is the MOST likely outcome of the grower's decision to use something other than traditional pesticides?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

When exposed to jasmonic acid, plants typically allocate resources to defense rather than fruit production, which could result in fewer crops. This is especially true if the herbivores have a significant impact on the overall health and production of the plants. Option A is incorrect because methyl-jasmonic acid is simply a modified version of jasmonic acid, but both compounds are known to elicit plant defenses. Option C is incorrect because although plants may grow more slowly in the presence of jasmonic acid due to increased allocation of resources to defense, this does not necessarily mean that herbivores will have less to eat and will leave; they may simply consume the plants more slowly. Option D is also incorrect because herbivores are likely to consume more plant tissue if it is available, so increased tissue growth may actually attract more herbivores.

Consider the Following Situation: a Tomato Grower Has Heard That