Irene Bricchi
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157
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About
Irene Bricchi is a leading plant biologist whose research focuses on the molecular and chemical ecology of plant–herbivore interactions, with a particular emphasis on early signaling events and volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions. Her most cited work, "Robotic mechanical wounding (MecWorm) versus herbivore-induced responses" (2010, 157 citations), represents a landmark contribution to the field. In this study, Bricchi and her team developed the MecWorm robot—a precision mechanical wounding device that mimics caterpillar feeding—to disentangle the effects of simple tissue damage from those of herbivore oral secretions. By comparing MecWorm-induced responses with actual herbivore attacks in Lima bean (Phaseolus lunatus), she demonstrated that early calcium signaling and VOC profiles are distinct and that herbivore-specific elicitors are necessary to trigger full defensive responses. This work has been instrumental in advancing our understanding of how plants perceive and discriminate between different types of mechanical stress, and it has been widely cited in studies on plant immunity, chemical ecology, and sustainable pest management. Bricchi’s innovative use of robotics in plant biology has opened new avenues for high-throughput, reproducible investigations of plant–insect interactions, making her a key figure in the field.
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