Achievement

Trainee Tim Butterfield has found that the common pest, Beet Armyworm, Spodoptera exigua, is exquisitely sensitive to the consumption of low concentrations of the polyphenol tannic acid. These findings are being expanded upon to determine the mode of action. He has also uncovered the novel finding that alfalfa plants accumulate substantial levels of tannins outside of the seed coat. These findings are being explored to determine whether the accumulation of substantial levels of polyphenols and tannins is age and/or stress related, something that has been overlooked to-date.