Constraints on effectiveness of cyanogenic glycosides in herbivore defense

Abstract

Cyanogenesis is the process by which hydrogen cyanide is released from endogenous cyanide containing compounds. Many cyanogenic plants release HCN in sufficient quantities to be toxic and, as a result, tend to be avoided by herbivores. However, there are many exceptions with some herbivores either immune to the cyanogenic status of the plant, or in some cases attracted to cyanogenic plants. This has led to a certain degree of scepticism regarding the role of cyanogenic glycosides as defense compounds. In this review, we examine evidence showing that differences in the effectiveness of cyanogenic glycosides in deterring herbivory can usually be reconciled when the morphology, physiology, and ..