Benjamin Babst

In the New Phytologist study, the scientists asked how plants deal with an external stress, such as an insect attack. ,We know that plants respond defensively to attacks, for example, by producing chemicals that kill off the attackers or make their own leaves less tasty,, said Benjamin Babst, a Ph.D. student in the biology department at Tufts University and lead author on that paper. ,But there,s a suspicion that plants also respond by building up tolerance, for example by putting aside more carbon into storage so it will be available to help the plant spring back to life once the attack has passed.

"We know that plants respond defensively to attacks, for example, by producing chemicals that kill off the attackers or make their own leaves less tasty," said Benjamin Babst, a Ph.D. student in the biology department at Tufts University and lead author on that paper.