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Sharp prickles, spines, thorns, or trichomes—hairs on the leaf that frequently include barbs and can occasionally contain poison—can be found on the leaves and stem of a plant. All these structural and chemical features are the best defense against:
Many secondary metabolites involved in plant defense have evolved in plants, and these compounds are collectively referred to as "anti-herbivory compounds." They include:
Pathogenic microorganisms, which include bacteria, nematodes, and fungi, feed on the plant and cause tissue damage. Plants protect themselves from these pathogens by:
