Role of gland trichomes in inducing tomato defense

Trichomes, both glandular and non-glandular, are hair-like structures extended from the epidermis of aerial tissues, which can serve several functions including protection against damage from herbivores. While most plants produce trichomes constitutively, some species respond to damage by increasing trichome density in new leaves. We will test how the inesect feeding affect the trichome density and how the trichome affect the insect growth. And also we will use molecular method to study the mechanism of trichome development in tomato.