Extrafloral nectar: a tale of plants’ sweet reward

Often, we see ants moving on some plants’ stems and leaves foraging for food. It is surprising, as these plants are at the vegetative stage and have yet to bear a nectar-containing flower or fruits that they feed on. This happens because some plants possess extrafloral nectary (EF nectary), a specialized gland other than the flower nectary gland. Like flower nectaries, EF nectaries also produce a sugar-rich extrafloral nectar (EFN) that insects are attracted to and feed on. The chemical ecology of EFN has been addressed in this commentary to show its potential as a solution to agricultural pests and sustainable agriculture.