Final answer:
Rotenone is a naturally occurring chemical in plants that acts as a botanical pesticide, providing defense against pests without negatively affecting the plant due to evolutionary adaptations such as sequestration.
Step-by-step explanation:
Rotenone is a naturally occurring chemical produced in the roots of some plants that acts as a botanical pesticide. The purpose of these bio-derived chemicals is to control pest populations that could potentially damage the plant. The benefits for the plants are manifold; they deter herbivory, thus reducing competition for nutrients and water, and protecting against diseases carried by certain pests. Plants are often not negatively affected by their defense chemicals like rotenone due to evolutionary adaptations such as sequestration, where the toxin is stored safely in compartments within the plant's cells, or because the biochemical pathways of the plant are not impaired by these substances. Furthermore, some plants have specific enzymes that activate their defense compounds only in response to damage or herbivory, ensuring the plant's normal processes are undisturbed.
Rotenone is also an example of Plant-Incorporated Protectants (PIPs), where natural resistances are utilized to protect plants from pests. Although rotenone is not a result of genetic modification like some PIPs, its role is similar in providing defense mechanisms for the plant. Therefore, the use of naturally derived pesticides like rotenone can be considered environmentally friendly compared to synthetic chemicals, which often come from nonrenewable resources and may be more harmful to non-target organisms, including natural predators and beneficial insects.