Question

If the enzyme polyphenoloxidase is part of a potato's defense against herbivores, what do we expect to see when looking at activity of extracts of peeled potatoes?

Answer 1

Herbivores are organisms that feed on plants. Plants have different mechanisms of defending against herbivores, mostly by synthesizing compounds that give the plants a bitter or unpleasant taste. The synthesis of these molecules is intensified when the plant and its cells suffer physical damage, so, in the case of peeled potatoes, there should be an increase in activity of this protective enzyme.