Spruce bark is rich in phenolic compounds that protect trees from pathogenic fungi. A research team at the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology in Jena has investigated how these plant defenses ...

This article predates the current owners of Science Blog. It has not been reviewed under the current editorial process and is kept as part of the archive. Adult spruce bark beetles in their galleries ...

Adult spruce bark beetles in their galleries in the bark of a Norway spruce tree. The beetle in the middle is infected with the fungus Beauveria bassiana. Spruce bark is rich in phenolic compounds ...

Spruce bark beetle in a Norway spruce tree, infected with fungus (Image Credit: Benjamin Weiss, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology) Far from being defenceless, plants have acquired all kinds of ...

After raking, pull up or cut back any grass or weeds that are growing close to your fruit tree trunks. Pull the weeds by hand ...