Press Releases

The elucidation of the biosynthetic pathway of ipecacuanha alkaloids shows how two distantly related plant species could develop the same substance independently. more

Alcohol in their food increases the production of sex pheromones in male fruit flies, making them more attractive to females more

Endophytic fungi inside the leaves strengthen the chemical defenses of black poplars and influence the interactions between insect populations living on the trees more

Evolutionary adaptations have enabled the fruit fly Drosophila busckii to detect and thrive on toxic food sources more

How leaf beetles found the key to digesting plants better with the help of bacteria more

Max Planck researchers identify the crucial protein for controlling the biosynthesis of steroidal glycoalkaloids and saponins in plants of the genus Solanum and for the first time demonstrate the ecological role of steroidal saponins in insect defense more

An enzyme originally derived from basic plant metabolism controls the synthesis of steroidal glycoalkaloids, important defense substances in tomatoes. 
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A complex venom system allows antlions to overpower large prey more

Max Planck researchers describe a new endosymbiont that is widespread in insects and whose ecological role needs to be further investigated more