Prof. Bede’s nonlinear research journey began when she started to realize that medicinal compounds derived from plants serve important ecological functions, particularly in the interactions between plants and insect herbivores. Fascinated by the tango of defense and counter-adaptation between plants and insects, Dr. Bede’s research addresses the fundamental biochemical mechanisms driving these relationships. On the plant side of the coin, Prof. Bede’s research investigates the redox- and post-translational regulation of plant defenses with the goal of enhancing crop endogenous defenses. On the insect side of the coin, Prof. Bede is interested in insect strategies to subvert plant defenses.

Each year, billions of agricultural and forestry dollars are lost to insect pests in the form of crop and forest damages and expenses in controlling insects. However, if we had a better understanding of how plants defend themselves, this would allow us to design insect control strategies to enhance the endogenous defense responses of the plant.