How could the tomato plants response to being eaten by a hornworm caterpillar be described as a function of homeostasis

First, it's important to get clear on the meaning of Homeostasis.

In simple terms, it refers to the capacity of a living thing (plant or animal) to react or behave in such a way that enables it to continue to survive irrespective of changes in its immediate environment.

Explanation:

In humans, the body has a system which reacts to the external stimuli of temprature. When the weather is hot, the brain through a sequence of electrical and chemical signals tells the skin to open up the pore, then we experience venting of sweating which cools the body and regulates internal heat. This is an instance of homeostasis.

This does not mean that the plant or animal is completely immune to such external changes.

In the case of the tomato plant, the hair on the leaves and stem of the plant is an example of Homeostatic responses which have evolved over the years to discourage predators such as the hornworm caterpillar from defoliating the plant.

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Please find the detailed explanation to this question below.

Explanation:

Firstly, homeostasis is the ability of an organism to use internally-controlled mechanisms to maintain a stable internal environment despite changes in its external environment. Homeostasis is an important phenomenon necessary for the survival of living organisms.

Hornworms caterpillar are notorious pests of tomato plants. However, tomato plants have been found not to stand still and get devoured. The plant responds to being eaten by these caterpillars by releasing chemicals that distracts their attention from the host plant and instead the caterpillars feed on one another.

Getting fed on by plants can disrupt the internal structure of plants, hence, the release of this defense chemicals by tomato plants is physiologically controlled in response to environmental stress i.e. pests, and it is done in order to maintain a stable internal condition. Therefore, the response of tomato plants to caterpillar pests is a FUNCTION of HOMEOSTASIS.

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