news item: plant odours probed.

SCIENTISTS at Harpenden's Rothamsted Research have been discovering how plants can subtly change their smell in their own interests.

Signal grass, an important livestock food in Africa, emits a particular odour when under attack by a harmful species of stem-boring moth to deter them.

http://www.stalbansreview.co.uk/news/5005568.Plant_odours_probed_in_Harpenden/

 

Thanks Hartley - I read about that in the newspaper. There is still such a lot that we don't know.

 

Yes! Good point! :thumb:

 

My Grandfather always had lots of pot marigolds among the veg to confuse carrot fly and attract greenfly from other things.