A whiff of death
odours produced by plants can repel crop pests and invite insects' enemies. Researcher John Pickett of uk 's leading arable crop research centre at Rothamsted in Hertfordshire is developing perfumes that work as insecticides. Picketts' scents are produced by plants themselves to keep off unwanted pests ( New Scientist , Vol 151, No 2046).
Odours play a remarkable role in plant defence. Many plants respond to pest attacks by emitting scented