Tobias Züst

This study examines the ability of diamondback moth to adapt to cardenolide-defended Erysimum cheiranthoides, finding limited adaptation despite existing genetic variation and phenotypic plasticity.

The paper studies how synthetic communities of maize root bacteria interact to alter benzoxazinoid metabolization, leading to increased community tolerance and alternative degradation products.

The paper quantifies within-plant variation in chemical defenses of Erysimum cheiranthoides and finds that cardenolides do not significantly affect Plutella xylostella feeding preference.

The paper identifies four enzymes that control stereochemistry at carbon 5 of cardenolides in Erysimum, showing how natural variation in one enzyme explains structural diversity in these defensive compounds.