Think that plants are defenceless? Think again.

Because a plant can't move away from predators, they've evolved to become fortresses, with a whole line up of defences from the obvious, like spines, to the subtle, such as poisons that render insects infertile.

This article looks at some of the hidden plant defences against both pests and dieseases, and how plants can switch on defence-related genes. If you're thinking about applying to study biology at University, this will extend your knowledge and bring you further up to date with some contemporary ideas in the field. 

Download the article from the link on the right.