scholarly journals Plant responses to butterfly oviposition partly explain preference-performance relationships on different brassicaceous species

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eddie Griese ◽  
Ana Pineda ◽  
Foteini G. Pashalidou ◽  
Eleonora Pizarro Iradi ◽  
Monika Hilker ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Pieris Rapae ◽  
Oviposition Preference ◽  
Egg Laying ◽  
Herbivorous Insects ◽  
Larval Performance ◽  
Plant Responses ◽  
Egg Survival ◽  
Offspring Performance ◽  
Insect Eggs

AbstractAccording to the preference-performance hypothesis (PPH), also known as ‘mother-knows-best hypothesis’, herbivorous insects prefer those plants for oviposition, which yield the best offspring performance. Yet, most studies testing the PPH neglect the possibility that plant responses to insect eggs may affect both egg survival and larval performance. Here, we tested the PPH by studying responses of seven Brassicaceae plant species to oviposition by two cabbage white species. When including the egg phase, our study supports the ‘mother-knows-best hypothesis’: larvae of Pieris rapae (solitary) or P. brassicae (gregarious) gained most weight on those plant species which had received most eggs (B. nigra or B. montana, respectively). However, our experiments did not reveal any relationship between oviposition preference and egg survival. Brassicaceous species are known to respond to these butterfly eggs with a hypersensitive response (HR)-like necrosis, which can lower egg survival. Pieris eggs frequently induced necrosis in five of the tested plant species. Survival of clustered P. brassicae eggs was unaffected by HR-like in four of the five species. Therefore, our experiments did not reveal any relationship between P. brassicae egg survival and oviposition preference. Females of P. rapae preferred oviposition on plant species which most frequently showed HR-like necrosis. Remarkably, although egg survival was lower on HR-like plants, larval biomass was higher compared to plants without a necrosis. We conclude that egg survival does not seem to be a deciding factor for oviposition choices. However, egg-mediated plant responses might be important to explain the PPH of the two Pieris species.Lay summaryEgg-laying preferences of herbivorous insects can often be linked to offspring performance. Commonly, the fate of insect eggs and the plant responses to the eggs have been ignored when studying the link between preference and performance. By including the egg phase, our study supports the ‘mother-knows-best hypothesis’, explained by butterfly oviposition and associated egg and larval performances on different plant species. We especially found that egg-mediated responses seem a deciding factor for butterfly oviposition choices.

Previous herbivory alerts conspecific gravid sawflies to avoid unsuitable host plants

2019 ◽  
Vol 110 (4) ◽  
pp. 438-448 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. A. Valladares ◽  
M. V. Coll-Aráoz ◽  
M. Alderete ◽  
M. T. Vera ◽  
P. C. Fernández
Keyword(s):  
Leaf Surface ◽  
Local Treatment ◽  
Resistance Mechanisms ◽  
Egg Laying ◽  
Host Recognition ◽  
Larval Performance ◽  
Offspring Performance ◽  
Volatile Emission ◽  
Choice Preference ◽  
Systemic Treatments

AbstractThe willow sawfly, Nematus oligospilus (Förster), is a pest in Salix commercial forests and has been reported worldwide. Female adults must recognize a suitable host plant to oviposit, since her offspring lack the ability to move to another host. We evaluated the effect of conspecific herbivory on the oviposition choices of N. oligospilus females by providing damaged (DP) and undamaged (UP) plants of Salix humboldtiana, a native willow from South America, as oviposition substrates. Local and systemic effects were studied. For the local treatment, a twig from the DP with damaged leaves was contrasted to a twig from a UP in dual choice experiments. For systemic treatment, a twig from the DP with intact leaves was contrasted to a twig from a UP. We estimated the use of olfactory and contact cues by comparing volatile emission of DP and UP, and by analysing the behaviour of the females during host recognition after landing on the leaf surface. In the context of the preference–performance hypothesis (PPH), we also tested if oviposition site selection maximizes offspring fitness by evaluating neonate hatching, larval performance and survival of larvae that were born and bred on either DP or UP. Our results demonstrate that previous conspecific herbivory on S. humboldtiana has a dramatic impact on female oviposition choices and offspring performance of the sawfly N. oligospilus. Females showed a marked preference for laying eggs on UP of S. humboldtiana. This preference was found for both local and systemic treatments. Volatile emission was quantitatively changed after conspecific damage suggesting that it could be related to N. oligospilus avoidance. In the dual choice preference experiments, the analysis of the behaviour of the females once landing on the leaf surface suggested the use of contact cues triggering egg laying on leaves from UP and avoidance of leaves from DP. Furthermore, 48 h of previous conspecific feeding was sufficient to dramatically impair neonate hatching, as well as larval development and survival, suggesting a rapid and effective reaction of the induced resistance mechanisms of the tree. In agreement with the PPH, these results support the idea that decisions made by colonizing females may result in optimal outcomes for their offspring in a barely studied insect model, and also opens the opportunity for studying tree-induced defences in the unexplored South American willow S. humboldtiana.

scholarly journals Narrow oviposition preference of an insect herbivore risks survival under conditions of severe drought

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana L. Salgado ◽  
Michelle F. DiLeo ◽  
Marjo Saastamoinen
Keyword(s):  
Drought Stress ◽  
Habitat Selection ◽  
Habitat Preferences ◽  
Oviposition Preference ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Larval Performance ◽  
Severe Drought ◽  
List Type ◽  
Offspring Performance ◽  
Climate Conditions

ABSTRACTUnderstanding species’ habitat preferences are crucial to predict organisms’ responses to the current climate crisis. In many insects, maternal habitat selection for oviposition essentially determines offspring performance. Whether changes in climatic conditions may pose future mismatches in oviposition preference and offspring performance when mothers continue to prefer microhabitats that now threaten offspring survival is an open question.To address this, we tested if oviposition preferences put offspring at risk in the Glanville fritillary butterfly (Melitaea cinxia) under drought stress. Mainly, we focus on identifying the microhabitat determinants for oviposition and the variation of conditions experienced by the sessile offspring, using field observations from 12 populations collected over 2015-2018. These data are combined with ten years of larval nest and precipitation data to understand within-population patterns of habitat selection. We tested whether the preferred microhabitats maximized the extended larval performance (i.e. overwinter survival).We found that females preferentially oviposited in microhabitats with higher host plant abundance and higher proportion of host plants with signs of drought stress. In most years, larval nests had higher survival in these drought-stressed microhabitats. However, in an extremely dry year, only two nests survived over the summer.Our results highlight that a failure to shift habitat preference under extreme climate conditions may have drastic consequences for the survival of natural populations under changing climatic conditions.

scholarly journals Responses to larval herbivory in the phenylpropanoid pathway of Ulmus minor are boosted by prior insect egg deposition

Planta ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 255 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Johanna Schott ◽  
Benjamin Fuchs ◽  
Christoph Böttcher ◽  
Monika Hilker
Keyword(s):  
Salicylic Acid ◽  
Phenylpropanoid Pathway ◽  
Leaf Beetle ◽  
Egg Laying ◽  
Plant Responses ◽  
Larval Feeding ◽  
Insect Eggs ◽  
Insect Egg ◽  
Ulmus Minor ◽  
Egg Deposition

Abstract Main conclusion Elms, which have received insect eggs as a ‘warning’ of larval herbivory, enhance their anti-herbivore defences by accumulating salicylic acid and amplifying phenylpropanoid-related transcriptional and metabolic responses to hatching larvae. Abstract Plant responses to insect eggs can result in intensified defences against hatching larvae. In annual plants, this egg-mediated effect is known to be associated with changes in leaf phenylpropanoid levels. However, little is known about how trees—long-living, perennial plants—improve their egg-mediated, anti-herbivore defences. The role of phytohormones and the phenylpropanoid pathway in egg-primed anti-herbivore defences of a tree species has until now been left unexplored. Using targeted and untargeted metabolome analyses we studied how the phenylpropanoid pathway of Ulmus minor responds to egg-laying by the elm leaf beetle and subsequent larval feeding. We found that when compared to untreated leaves, kaempferol and quercetin concentrations increased in feeding-damaged leaves with prior egg deposition, but not in feeding-damaged leaves without eggs. PCR analyses revealed that prior insect egg deposition intensified feeding-induced expression of phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL), encoding the gateway enzyme of the phenylpropanoid pathway. Salicylic acid (SA) concentrations were higher in egg-treated, feeding-damaged leaves than in egg-free, feeding-damaged leaves, but SA levels did not increase in response to egg deposition alone—in contrast to observations made of Arabidopsis thaliana. Our results indicate that prior egg deposition induces a SA-mediated response in elms to feeding damage. Furthermore, egg deposition boosts phenylpropanoid biosynthesis in subsequently feeding-damaged leaves by enhanced PAL expression, which results in the accumulation of phenylpropanoid derivatives. As such, the elm tree shows similar, yet distinct, responses to insect eggs and larval feeding as the annual model plant A. thaliana.

scholarly journals How the seed coat affects the mother’s oviposition preference and larval performance in the bean beetle (Acanthoscelides obtectus, Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae, Bruchinae) in leguminous species

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Árpád Szentesi
Keyword(s):  
Larval Development ◽  
Seed Coat ◽  
Oviposition Preference ◽  
Egg Laying ◽  
Larval Performance ◽  
Acanthoscelides Obtectus ◽  
First Instar ◽  
Leguminous Species ◽  
Bean Beetle ◽  
Seed Coats

Abstract Background The host specificity and host range of the dry bean beetle, Acanthoscelides obtectus (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae, Bruchinae), a seed predator of beans, is poorly known. In addition, the female oviposition preference and larval performance relationship is complicated by the respective importance of seed coat and cotyledon, because, paradoxically, females lay eggs on the basis of stimuli of the seed coat alone, without directly being able to assess the quality of the cotyledon’s suitability for larval development. Conversely, the thickness of seed coat may prevent first instar larvae from entering the seeds, even if cotyledons are suitable for development. Methods The seeds of 62 leguminous species and 75 cultivars and accessions occurring in Hungary were evaluated for preference-performance relations. The preference of female bean beetles for seeds was measured in no-choice egg-laying tests. The ability of first instar larvae to overcome the seed coat as a physical barrier was tested with intact seed coat, while pre-drilled seed coats allowed the larvae to assess the suitability of cotyledon for development. The number of emerging adults was recorded. The thickness of seed coats and the weight of seeds were measured. Nonparametric tests and logistic regression were used for the statistical analyses of data and effect sizes were also calculated. Results Seeds of 18 leguminous species (35% of them Lathyrus) supported larval development to adults if the seed coat was pre-drilled; however, only nine leguminous species supported development to adults if the seed coat was intact. Seed coat thickness beyond a critical threshold of 0.1 mm strongly influenced survival of first instar larvae. There was no overall positive correlation between oviposition preference and larval performance, except for 16 so-called acceptable non-hosts (Kendall’s τ = 0.3088). A. obtectus females also showed an ovipositional hierarchy of legume species even in no-choice tests. Conclusions The results suggest that whereas the use of some acceptable non-host species by the A. obtectus is possible in seed stores, the same is unlikely under outdoor conditions, where the recognition of a diverse set of seed pod-related compounds would be necessary to induce egg-laying.

scholarly journals Plant Vigor Hypothesis refuted: preference-performance linkage of a gall-inducing weevil on small-sized host plant resources

2011 ◽  
Vol 71 (1) ◽  
pp. 65-69 ◽  
Author(s):  
JC. Santos ◽  
CB. Tavares ◽  
JS. Almeida-Cortez
Keyword(s):  
Host Plant ◽  
Oviposition Preference ◽  
Leaf Size ◽  
Leaf Length ◽  
Larval Performance ◽  
Top Down ◽  
Plant Resources ◽  
Offspring Performance ◽  
Plant Vigor ◽  
Plant Vigor Hypothesis

The Plant Vigor Hypothesis (PVH) predicts an oviposition preference of females and higher offspring performance for insect herbivores on longer and fast-growing plant modules. We tested the PVH predictions by investigating the effects of leaf size of Miconia prasina (Sw.) DC. (Melastomataceae) on the oviposition preference and on the offspring survival of the gall-inducing weevil Prospoliata bicolorata (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Additionally, we analysed the effects of top-down mortality force on this system. Approximately 83% of the developed galls resulted in adults of P. bicolorata, whereas 17% of the galls successfully induced were killed by natural enemies (top-down effect). Leaves of intermediate size were more abundant while smaller and longer leaves were rare. Nevertheless, the percentage of P. bicolorata galls was higher on the smallest leaves of M. prasina, refuting the preference prediction of the PVH. Our results also refuted the performance prediction: the ratio of survival per leaf was negatively related to the leaf length. Thus, we found a link between female preference and larval performance of P. bicolorata on small-sized leaves of M. prasina. The next goal is to understand the mechanisms involved in the selection of gall-inducing weevil on short leaves of its host plant.

scholarly journals Disentangling transcriptional responses in plant defense against arthropod herbivores

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alejandro Garcia ◽  
M. Estrella Santamaria ◽  
Isabel Diaz ◽  
Manuel Martinez
Keyword(s):  
Regulatory Networks ◽  
Pieris Rapae ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Plant Response ◽  
Plant Responses ◽  
Transcriptional Responses ◽  
Crop Species ◽  
Physiological Processes ◽  
Meta Analyses ◽  
Plant Herbivore

AbstractThe success in the response of a plant to a pest depends on the regulatory networks that connect plant perception and plant response. Meta-analyses of transcriptomic responses are valuable tools to discover novel mechanisms in the plant/herbivore interplay. Considering the quantity and quality of available transcriptomic analyses, Arabidopsis thaliana was selected to test the ability of comprehensive meta-analyses to disentangle plant responses. The analysis of the transcriptomic data showed a general induction of biological processes commonly associated with the response to herbivory, like jasmonate signaling or glucosinolate biosynthesis. However, an uneven induction of many genes belonging to these biological categories was found, which was likely associated with the particularities of each specific Arabidopsis-herbivore interaction. A thorough analysis of the responses to the lepidopteran Pieris rapae and the spider mite Tetranychus urticae highlighted specificities in the perception and signaling pathways associated with the expression of receptors and transcription factors. This information was translated to a variable alteration of secondary metabolic pathways. In conclusion, transcriptomic meta-analysis has been revealed as a potent way to sort out relevant physiological processes in the plant response to herbivores. Translation of these transcriptomic-based analyses to crop species will permit a more appropriate design of biotechnological programs.

Effects of water deficiency on preference and performance of an insect herbivore Ostrinia furnacalis

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
M.Y. Duan ◽  
H. Zhu ◽  
H. Wang ◽  
S.Y. Guo ◽  
H. Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Driving Forces ◽  
Oviposition Preference ◽  
Precipitation Pattern ◽  
Ostrinia Furnacalis ◽  
Oviposition Choice ◽  
Offspring Performance ◽  
Corn Borer ◽  
Limited Mobility ◽  
Offspring Fitness ◽  
And Performance

Abstract With further climate change still expected, it is predicted to increase the frequency with plants will be water stressed, which subsequently influences phytophagous insects, particularly Lepidoptera with limited mobility of larvae. Previous studies have indicated that oviposition preference and offspring performance of Lepidoptera insects are sensitive to drought separately. However, the integration of their two properties is not always seen. Here, we evaluated changes in oviposition selection and offspring fitness of a Lepidoptera insect under three water-stressed treatments using a model agroecosystem consisting of maize Zea mays, and Asian corn borer Ostrinia furnacalis. Results found that female O. furnacalis preferred to laying their eggs on well-watered maize, and then their offspring tended to survive better, attained bigger larvae mass, and developed more pupae and adults on the preferred maize. Oviposition selection of O. furnacalis positively correlated with height and leaf traits of maize, and offspring fitness positively related with water content and phytochemical traits of hosts. Overall, these results suggest that oviposition choice performed by O. furnacalis reflects the maximization of offspring fitness, supporting preference–performance hypothesis. This finding further highlights that the importance of simultaneous evaluation of performance and performance for water driving forces should be involved, in order to accurately predict population size of O. furnacalis under altered precipitation pattern.

Leaf traits influencing oviposition preference and larval performance ofCameraria ohridellaon native and novel host plants

2014 ◽  
Vol 152 (2) ◽  
pp. 157-164 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lilla D'Costa ◽  
Monique S.J. Simmonds ◽  
Nigel Straw ◽  
Bastien Castagneyrol ◽  
Julia Koricheva
Keyword(s):  
Host Plants ◽  
Oviposition Preference ◽  
Leaf Traits ◽  
Larval Performance ◽  
Novel Host

The Effects of Age and Weather on Egg-Laying in Pieris rapae L.

1977 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 65 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. W. Gossard ◽  
R. E. Jones
Keyword(s):  
Pieris Rapae ◽  
Egg Laying
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