COMPOSITIONS AND THEIR USE FOR PEST CONTROL AND TO INDUCE PLANT HORMONE AND GENE REGULATION FOR IMPROVED PLANT PRODUCTION AND DEFENSE

摘要

The subject invention provides compositions and methods of using the same for improving plants' defense by employing naturally-derived chemicals. In a specific embodiment, the composition is from Parthenium argentatum Gray, also known as the guayule plant. Preferred compositions can up-or downregulate growth genes responsible for the targeted plants' defense mechanisms in order to create physical and/or chemical barriers, and produce detouring exudates, antagonistic compounds, or fumigating compounds that prevent and treat damages from pests in agronomic or non-agronomic plants.