GS Gill Research Institute

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Insect Chemistry & Chemical Ecology

Insect Chemistry & Chemical Ecology

Insect chemical ecology (ICE) is a recent applied research area that deals with plant–insect interactions, with a strong focus on intraspecific pheromone-mediated communication. Progress in this field of research has revealed a more complete picture of how insects exploit chemical information in their surroundings in order to survive and navigate their survival successfully. Insects have a very unique and interesting tactics using chemical signals to survive. Chemical ecology illustrates the working of the biological network by means of chemical cues. Recent advances in analytical chemistry and phytochemistry have opened the way to a better understanding of the more complicated interactions of insects with other organisms including plants and microbes. Plants produce a diverse array of secondary metabolites as chemical barriers against herbivores. Many phytophagous insects are highly adapted to these allelochemicals and use such unique substances as the specific host-finding cues, defensive substances of their own, and even as sex pheromones or their precursors by selectively sensing, incorporating, and/or processing these phytochemicals. Hence this unit is undertaking the following research.