DIFFERENTIAL INDUCTION OF TOMATO FOLIAR PROTEINS BY ARTHROPOD HERBIVORES

The effects of mechanical and chemical damage and three types of bioti c damage on the activities of four foliar proteins of the tomato plant (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill var. Castlemart) were assayed. Proteina se inhibitor, polyphenol oxidase, peroxidase, and lipoxygenase activit ies were assayed in damaged leaflets and compared with activities in u ndamaged leaflets. These proteins are putative plant defenses in tomat o. Differential induction of these proteins by the various damage-trea tments was demonstrated, such that different subsets of the four prote ins were induced by different types of damage. This study clearly demo nstrates the ability of plants to respond differentially to different types of damage. Possible mechanisms for this differential induction a nd the implications of differential induction for plant defense are di scussed.