response of the ant-plant Tococa quadrialata to herbivory
Ant-plants and their associated ants are classic examples of defensive mutualism. The ants protect their hosts against herbivores, whereas the plants provide them with nesting sites and food. While the importance of ants as plant defenders has been investigated thoroughly, information about how the plants themselves respond to herbivory is still scarce. Here, we studied the plant Tococa quadrialata and its reaction to herbivory under controlled conditions. We aimed to identify genes and enzymes involved in the defense against herbivory.