| Systemin activates defensive mechanisms, such as the production of protease inhibitors to slow the growth of insects. |
| After an insect attack tomato plants produce systemin, a plant peptide hormone. |
| The compound, systemin, activates or turns on genes that produce two proteinase inhibitors. |
| To date, systemin has been described for tomato only, and not even for other solanaceous plants such as tobacco. |
