<i>Berberis vulgaris</i> (IMAGE)

Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ

<i>Berberis vulgaris</i>

Caption

Plants are also able to make complex decisions. At least this is what scientists have concluded from their investigations on barberry (Berberis vulgaris), which is able to abort its own seeds to prevent parasite infestation. Approximately 2,000 berries were collected during this study from different regions of Germany, examined for signs of piercing and then cut open to examine any infestation by the larvae of the tephritid fruit fly (Rhagoletis meigenii).

Credit

Photo: Steffen Hauser / botanikfoto

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