What is the most likely plant response to an attack by herbivores?

The options are:

A) leaf abscission to prevent further loss

B) early flowering to try to reproduce before being eaten

C) production of chemical compounds for defense or to attract predators

D) production of physical defenses, such as thorns

The correct answer of this question is- C) production of chemical compounds for defense or to attract predators

Explanation:

In response to attacks by herbivores, plants produce chemicals that are toxic to the herbivores which can even kill them or some chemicals can spread in the air and can attract the predators of those herbivores that attack that plant species.

Plants produce secondary metabolites that play an important role in protecting the plant from predators because they can be toxic and antimicrobial for example flavonoids, alkaloids, saponins. Plants do not get harmed by these metabolites because they have their own detoxification method. So the correct answer is C.

The question is incomplete as it does not have the options which are:

A) leaf abscission to prevent further loss

B) early flowering to try and reproduce before being eaten

C) production of chemical compounds for defense or to attract predators

D) production of physical defenses, such as thorns

E) production of thicker bark and cuticle to make it more difficult to eat

D) production of physical defenses, such as thorns

Explanation:

The plants are autotrophic organism which can produce food on their own therefore they become the producers of the food chain that is they are eaten by the primary consumers.

So to protect themselves the plants adapted to protect themselves and formed the needle-like structures called thorns by modifying their stem. The needle-like structure can injure or harm the herbivore when they try to eat them.

Thus, Option-D is correct.