Re: Of what use are Tannins to a tree and and how do they help a tree?

Jill,

I hope this information is helpful to you. Tannins are an ergastic substance. Ergastic substances are passive products of the protoplast, some are storage products, and some are waste products. These substances can appear and disappear at different times in the life of a plant cell. Ergastic substances can be found in the cell wall, in ground substance, and in organelles, including vacuoles. Tannins are static defenses, always present in the plant parts where they occur. When a moth attacks a tree, the trees produce new leaves, that are much higher in tannins than normal. The new leaves are tougher, and contain less water. Now if larvae feed on these new leaves, they experience reduced growth, and moth life if diminished becasue they can't feed on these new leaves. Tannins interfere with digestion in insects, by combining with plant protiens making them indigestible. As we see Tannins have a very important protective function for plants, and also can effect the populations of organisms feeding on the trees.