外源5-氨基乙酰丙酸对盐胁迫下黄连幼苗光合参数及其叶绿素荧光特性的影响

该实验以2年生黄连幼苗为材料,在100mmol·L-1的NaCl模拟盐胁迫条件下,经不同浓度的外源5-氨基乙酰丙酸(ALA)处理后,测定黄连幼苗光合色素含量、叶绿素荧光参数及气体交换参数等光合生理指标的变化,探寻提高黄连幼苗在盐胁迫条件下抗性能力的途径。结果显示:(1)NaCl胁迫下黄连幼苗的光合生理受到显著抑制,在经过不同浓度的ALA处理后,显著提高了叶绿素a、叶绿素b、总叶绿素和类胡萝卜素等光合色素的含量。(2)盐胁迫下,黄连植株的的净光合速率(Pn)、气孔导度(Gs)及叶片蒸腾速率(Tr)均发生下降,并且随着胁迫时间和胁迫浓度的增加下降幅度逐渐增大,胞间CO2浓度(Ci)则呈上升趋势,说明盐胁迫下黄连净光合速率降低的主要影响因素是非气孔因素。(3)用ALA处理后,黄连的Pn、Gs及Tr均有不同程度的提高,Ci也有不同程度的降低,并且不同的浓度梯度存在着显著的效果差异。(4)ALA处理还提高了最大荧光(Fm,1.234)、最大光化学效率(Fv/Fm,0.849)、PSⅡ有效光化学效率(Fv′/Fm′,0.685)、PSⅡ实际光化学效率(ΦPSⅡ,0.545)和光化学淬灭系数(qP,0.872)的水平,有效降低了初始荧光(F0,0.211)和非光化学淬灭系数(NPQ,0.251)的水平。研究表明,外源ALA通过提高黄连幼苗叶片的光合色素含量,减少过剩激发能的耗散,提高光合电子传递效率,有效缓解了盐胁迫对黄连叶片PSⅡ的伤害,提高了植株的抗盐能力。     

氯化胆碱对盐胁迫黄瓜幼苗渗透调节物质及活性氧代谢系统的影响

以盐敏感型黄瓜品种津春4号为材料,采用水培方法研究了叶面喷施不同浓度(0.5、1.0和1.5 mmol·L-1)氯化胆碱(CC)对NaCl胁迫(75 mmol·L-1)下黄瓜幼苗鲜重、叶片叶绿素、渗透调节物质含量及活性氧代谢系统的影响.结果表明:(1)单独CC处理可提高黄瓜叶片的叶绿素、可溶性糖和可溶性蛋白含量以及过氧化氢酶(CAT)与过氧化物酶(POD)活性,降低O2·-产生速率,但对植株鲜重及超氧化物岐化酶(SOD)活性影响不大;(2)NaCl胁迫处理增加了黄瓜幼苗叶片中可溶性糖和可溶性蛋白含量,增强了SOD、POD和CAT活性,提高了O2·-产生速率及丙二醛(MDA)的含量,但同时降低了叶绿素含量与植株鲜重;(3)盐胁迫前CC预处理可缓解黄瓜幼苗叶绿素含量和植株鲜重的下降、以及MDA含量和O2·-产生速率的上升趋势,且进一步提高了盐胁迫下黄瓜叶片中SOD、POD和CAT活性.因此,适宜浓度的氯化胆碱可显著提高盐胁迫下黄瓜叶片的抗氧化酶活性,提高清除活性氧的能力,缓解盐胁迫对黄瓜幼苗细胞膜的伤害,增强黄瓜幼苗的耐盐性.     

叶面喷施亚精胺对盐碱胁迫下番茄幼苗生长及其叶绿素合成前体含量的影响

以盐碱敏感型番茄品种‘中杂9号’幼苗为试验材料,研究叶面喷施0.25mmol·L-1亚精胺(Spd)对75mmol·L-1盐碱溶液胁迫下番茄幼苗生长、净光合速率及叶绿素合成前体物质含量的影响,探讨Spd在缓解番茄盐碱胁迫伤害的生理机制。结果显示:(1)盐碱胁迫下番茄叶片叶绿素合成前体物质原卟啉Ⅸ(ProtoⅨ)、镁-原卟啉Ⅸ(Mg-protoⅨ)、原叶绿素酸(Pchl)含量均显著降低,而δ-氨基酮戊酸(ALA)、胆色素原(PBG)、尿卟啉原Ⅲ(UroⅢ)显著积累,UroⅢ到ProtoⅨ的转化受阻,引起叶片叶绿素a(Chl a)、叶绿素b(Chl b)和总叶绿素(Chl)含量显著降低,以及幼苗叶片净光合速率(Pn)、叶面积、叶片相对含水量、地上和地下部干鲜重的生长指标均显著降低。(2)盐碱胁迫下,叶面喷施Spd可显著促进番茄幼苗的生长,抑制叶片内ALA、PBG、UroⅢ的积累,并提高ProtoⅨ、Mg-protoⅨ、Pchl、Chl a、Chl b、Chl含量和相应Pn值。研究表明,盐碱胁迫显著抑制番茄幼苗的生长,叶面喷施Spd可通过缓解UroⅢ到ProtoⅨ的转化受阻程度,促进盐碱胁迫下番茄叶片的叶绿素合成,提高叶绿素含量和净光合速率,减轻盐碱胁迫对幼苗生长的伤害。     

外源5-氨基乙酰丙酸对盐胁迫下菘蓝种子萌发及幼苗抗氧化酶活性的影响

采用砂培方式,研究了外源5-氨基乙酰丙酸(ALA)对盐胁迫下菘蓝种子的萌发、幼苗叶片的可溶性糖含量、丙二醛(MDA)含量及其抗氧化酶活性的影响,探讨ALA缓解菘蓝受盐胁迫伤害的响应机制。结果显示:(1)菘蓝种子萌发及幼苗生长在100 mmol·L^-1 NaCl胁迫下受到明显的抑制,种子发芽率、发芽势、发芽指数、活力指数与自然含水量均显著降低,丙二醛含量、可溶性糖含量以及超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化物酶(POD)活性显著升高。(2)盐胁迫下适宜浓度的ALA处理显著提高了种子萌发率、自然含水量及SOD、POD和CAT活性,降低了可溶性糖和丙二醛的含量,并以16.7 mg·L^-1 ALA处理盐胁迫下菘蓝种子的发芽率、发芽势最大,其幼苗的SOD、POD、CAT活性最强。研究表明,盐胁迫显著抑制菘蓝种子的萌发及幼苗生长,适宜浓度的ALA能够有效缓解盐胁迫对菘蓝种子萌发及幼苗生长的伤害,提高植株的抗盐性,并以16.7 mg·L^-1 ALA处理效果最佳。     

外源多胺对盆栽花生盐胁迫的缓解作用

为探讨外源多胺对花生(Arachis hypogaea)抗盐性的影响,以盆栽花生‘花育22’为试验材料,通过叶面喷施1mmol·L~(–1)腐胺(Put)、1 mmol·L~(–1)亚精胺(Spd)、1 mmol·L~(–1)精胺(Spm)的方法,研究多胺对150 mmol·L~(–1) NaCl胁迫下盆栽花生的缓解作用。结果表明,与对照(CK)相比,盐胁迫显著抑制了花生植株的生长与荚果产量,降低了叶绿素含量和抗氧化酶活性,丙二醛(MDA)含量、叶片相对电导率增加;在盐胁迫下,叶面喷施Put、Spd、Spm处理均可有效促进花生植株的生长,提高了超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化物酶(POD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)的活性,增强植株抗氧化能力,显著降低了花生叶片相对电导率和MDA的积累量,从而缓解盐胁迫对质膜的过氧化伤害;提高了叶绿素含量,促进了植株高度的生长与分支数增多,增加了干物质积累量,从而提高了花生荚果产量;其中,Spm处理引起的变化幅度大于Spd和Put处理。研究结果说明,多胺有利于花生幼苗在盐胁迫下活性氧代谢和光合色素含量的提高,促进花生植株的生长,降低盐胁迫对花生植株的抑制作用,且Spm处理的效果最好。     

硅提高黄瓜幼苗抗盐能力的生理机制研究

为了明确硅提高黄瓜幼苗抗盐能力的机制,该试验采用水培方法,以黄瓜品种‘津优一号’为材料,对幼苗进行中度盐胁迫,研究在盐胁迫下硅对黄瓜幼苗生长、光合特性、渗透调节物质和离子吸收的影响。结果显示:(1)正常条件下,硅对黄瓜幼苗生长及相关生理指标无明显影响;单独盐处理降低了幼苗叶片叶绿素含量、光合速率、气孔导度、蒸腾速率和叶片含水量,导致幼苗生长受抑。(2)盐胁迫下加硅显著提高了幼苗光合速率和叶片含水量,增加了生物量的积累;在盐胁迫初期,硅加盐处理黄瓜叶片渗透势略低于单独盐处理,此后均高于单独盐处理;硅加盐处理显著提高了叶片可溶性糖含量,尤其是蔗糖含量,而降低了其脯氨酸含量,但对可溶性蛋白含量无显著影响。(3)盐胁迫下黄瓜植株Na+含量大幅上升,K+含量下降,K+/Na+比大幅降低;硅加盐处理降低了黄瓜叶片中Na+含量,提高了K+含量和K+/Na+比。研究表明,盐胁迫条件下,硅能通过减轻叶片离子毒害和增加水分吸收,改善叶片水分状况,从而维持较高的光合能力,提高其抗盐能力;而渗透调节只在盐胁迫初期有轻微缓解作用,不是硅提高黄瓜幼苗抗盐性的主要途径。     

外源5-氨基乙酰丙酸对NaCl胁迫下酸枣光合特性的影响

以2年生酸枣幼苗为试验材料,探讨不同浓度NaCl(0、4、8、12g·kg-1)胁迫下喷施5-氨基乙酰丙酸(ALA,75、150mg·L~(-1))对酸枣光合特性的影响。结果显示:(1)不同浓度NaCl胁迫下,外源ALA对酸枣叶片的净光合速率(Pn)、胞间二氧化碳浓度(Ci)、气孔导度(Gs)、蒸腾速率(Tr)及叶绿素含量等具有明显促进作用。(2)在不同浓度NaCl胁迫下,喷施75mg·L~(-1)的ALA仅在NaCl浓度为4和8g·kg-1处理下对酸枣Tr值具有显著提高作用,而喷施150mg·L~(-1) ALA在各NaCl浓度胁迫下对其Pn、Ci和Tr均具有显著促进作用。(3)在重度NaCl胁迫(12g·kg-1)下,喷施150mg·L~(-1) ALA对酸枣叶片叶绿素含量具有显著提高作用,而喷施75mg·L~(-1)浓度ALA却无明显提高。研究表明,在NaCl胁迫条件下,外源ALA能有效改善酸枣叶片光合气体交换参数,提高叶绿素含量,从而缓解NaCl胁迫的伤害,提高其光合能力,并以喷施150mg·L~(-1) ALA的缓解效果更好。     

外源NO对Cd胁迫下娃娃菜种子萌发及幼苗生长的保护效应

为探讨外源一氧化氮(NO)对镉(Cd)胁迫下娃娃菜(Brassica pekinensis)的保护效应,采用0、50、100、200、500和1000μmol·L~(–1)的外源NO供体硝普钠(SNP)对100和200 mg·L~(–1) CdCl_2胁迫下的娃娃菜种子进行处理,分析其对种子萌发、幼苗生长及生理指标的影响。结果表明:Cd胁迫抑制娃娃菜种子萌发和幼苗生长,幼苗叶片叶绿素(Chl)和类胡萝卜素(Car)含量显著降低,丙二醛(MDA)含量和相对电导率(REC)显著上升,幼苗叶片膜脂过氧化加速。不同浓度的SNP处理,不仅能提高Cd胁迫下娃娃菜种子的发芽率、发芽势、发芽指数和活力指数,促进幼苗生长,而且能抑制MDA含量上升,降低叶片REC,增加Chl和脯氨酸(Pro)含量,增强抗氧化酶活性。外源NO可缓解Cd胁迫对娃娃菜种子萌发及幼苗生长的抑制作用,缓解Cd胁迫引起的膜脂过氧化,提高抗Cd能力,其中以200μmol·L~(–1)SNP对Cd胁迫的缓解效果较好。     

叶面喷施亚精胺对高温胁迫下番茄叶绿素合成代谢的影响

以设施番茄栽培品种‘金棚朝冠’幼苗为试验材料,研究叶面喷施0.25 mmol·L~(-1)亚精胺(Spd)对高温胁迫下(38℃/28℃,昼/夜)番茄幼苗生长及叶绿素合成过程中前体物质含量、关键酶活性和叶绿素含量的影响,探讨Spd缓解番茄高温胁迫伤害的生理机制。结果表明:(1)高温胁迫显著抑制了番茄幼苗的生长,叶面喷施Spd可有效缓解高温胁迫对番茄幼苗地上部生长的抑制作用,但对于地下部的生长无显著缓解作用。(2)高温胁迫下番茄叶片叶绿素合成前体物质δ-氨基酮戊酸(ALA)和胆色素原(PBG)的含量显著提高,而尿卟啉原Ⅲ(UroⅢ)、原卟啉Ⅸ(ProtoⅨ)、镁-原卟啉Ⅸ(Mg-protoⅨ)和原叶绿素酸(Pchl)的含量显著降低,证明叶绿素前体由PBG向UroⅢ的转化受阻,导致叶绿素a(Chla)、总叶绿素(Chlt)含量和Chla/Chlb显著降低。(3)叶面喷施Spd能增强高温胁迫下胆色素原脱氨酶(PBGD)活性,有效缓解了高温胁迫对PBG到UroⅢ转化的阻碍作用,促进PBG之后叶绿素合成前体物质的合成,Chla含量和Chla/Chlb显著增加。研究发现,高温胁迫显著抑制番茄幼苗的生长,叶面喷施Spd可通过显著增强PBGD活性来缓解由PBG向UroⅢ的受阻程度,促进高温胁迫下番茄叶片的叶绿素前体合成,提高叶绿素含量和番茄植株的生长量,减轻高温胁迫对番茄幼苗生长的伤害。     

外源-5氨基乙酰丙酸对干旱胁迫下紫花苜蓿生理特性及次生代谢物含量的影响

为验证喷施不同浓度5-氨基乙酰丙酸(ALA)对紫花苜蓿的响应,该研究以紫花苜蓿品种‘农牧806’为实验材料,用不同浓度(0、5、10、15、20、25 mg·L~(-1))的ALA喷施处理15%聚乙二醇(PEG-6000)模拟干旱胁迫下的紫花苜蓿幼苗,并测定其相关的生理生化指标以及次生代谢物质积累量。结果表明:(1)与对照相比,15%PEG干旱胁迫使得紫花苜蓿叶片中光合色素含量降低,渗透调节物质含量以及抗氧化酶活性增高。(2)与15%PEG处理相比,ALA+15%PEG复配处理下紫花苜蓿幼苗叶片叶绿素a、b和类胡萝卜素以及叶绿素总量分别增加,抗氧化酶(CAT, POD, SOD)活性升高,可溶性蛋白和脯氨酸以及黄酮和皂苷含量上升,丙二醛、H_2O_2和·OH的含量降低,各浓度ALA对15%PEG不同时长胁迫的恢复效果不同。研究发现,叶面喷施适量浓度ALA能够有效提高干旱胁迫下紫花苜蓿叶片抗氧化酶活性以及渗透调节物质、次生代谢物(黄酮、皂苷)含量和光合色素含量,从而增强紫花苜蓿对干旱胁迫的耐受性,并以10 mg·L~(-1)ALA的缓解效果较显著。     

The effect of competition and edaphic conditions on the establishment of halophytes on brine effected soils

In order to test the feasibility of using native halophytes to reclaim brinecontaminated soil, seedlings of five inland halophytes, Atriplexprostrata, Hordeum jubatum, Salicornia europaea, Spergularia marina, and Suaeda calceoliformis, were planted at threedensities on a site near Athens, Ohio which had been contaminated by oilwell brine water. Ten replicates of each density treatment weretransplanted on two distinct areas of high and low salinity in May of 1993. Seedling survivorship, soil moisture, and soil salinity were monitored weeklythroughout the growing season. Biomass production and ion uptake weredetermined for each plant surviving until harvest. Soil analyses wereperformed prior to planting and after harvest to determine overall changesin soil chemistry and to determine the amount of Na⁺ reductionfrom the soil due to leaching by precipitation during the course of theexperiment. Survival was determined to be density independent for all ofthe species with the exception of S. marina where survival wasfacilitated at high density. Increased salinity negatively affected the survivaland yield of A. prostrata. The remaining species had greater survivalunder high salinity conditions, and density appeared to be the key factorinfluencing yield. Sodium and chloride ions were accumulated in planttissues in much greater amounts than K⁺, Ca⁺²or Mg⁺². Salicornia europaea plants grown in high densityon the high salinity site accumulated the highest amount of Na⁺ andH. jubatum grown in low density on the high salinity site accumulatedthe lowest amount of Na⁺. Soil salinities measured directly from theroot zone were significantly reduced (p<0.05) at the end of thegrowing season when compared to their controls. Atriplex prostrata(high density/low salinity) plots produced the greatest reduction in soilsalinity (15.8%) and S. marina (high density/high salinity) plots hadthe least reduction (1.2%).     

A comparative study on the influence of manganese on the bactericidal response of marine invertebrates

Manganese, Mn, is a naturally abundant metal in marine sediments. During hypoxic conditions the metal converts into a bioavailable state and can reach levels that have been shown immunotoxic to the crustacean Nephrops norvegicus. For this species it has previously been shown that exposure to 15 mg L⁻¹ of Mn decreased the number of circulating haemocytes while it for the echinoderm Asterias rubens increased the number of coelomocytes. Here, we compared if five days of exposure to the same concentration of Mn affects the bactericidal capacity of these two species and the mollusc Mytilus edulis when inoculated with the bacterium Vibrio parahaemolyticus. Viable counts of the bacteria were investigated at a time-course post-injection in the blood and the digestive glands of Mn-exposed and un-exposed (controls) animals. Accumulation of Mn was also analyzed in these tissues. When exposed to Mn the haemocyte numbers were significantly reduced in M. edulis and it was shown that the bactericidal capacity was impaired in the mussels as well as in N. norvegicus. This was most obvious in the digestive glands. These two species also showed the highest accumulation of the metal. In A. rubens the bactericidal capacity was not affected and the metal concentration was similar to the exposure concentration. After a recovery period of three days the concentration of Mn was significantly reduced in all three species. However, in M. edulis and N. norvegicus it was still double that of A. rubens which could explain the remaining bactericidal suppression observed in N. norvegicus. This study pointed out that exposure to such Mn-levels that are realistic to find in nature could have effects on the whole organism level, in terms of susceptibility to infections. The effect seemed associated to the accumulated concentration of Mn which differed on species level.     

Distribution of VA mycorrhiza on halophytes on inland salt playas

The value of mycorrhizal association for higher plants has been well established. However, the impact of high salinity on the mycorrhizal relationship has not been investigated to any great extent. Inland salt playas represent an opportunity to test the impact of salinity because it is possible to obtain a gradient by following a transect from the centre of the salt playa to the higher outer zones. In a salt playa near Goshen, Utah, the sodium concentration ranged from 27,150 ppm in the centre to 25 ppm in the outer zone. In the playas with sodium concentrations of 20,000 ppm, no mycorrhiza were detected on the halophytes and no spores of mycorrhizal fungi were found in the soil. One percent of the roots of salt grass in soils containing 8,450 ppm of sodium were mycorrhizal. In soils containing 622 ppm of 45 percent of the roots of a salt-tolerant grass (hybrid ofAgropyron repens × Agropyron spicatum) were mycorrhizal. Halophytes such asSalicornia pacifica var.utahensis which are among the most salt tolerant halophytes of the inland salt playas rarely had mycorrhizal roots. The mycorrhizal associations appear to be very limited in inland salt playas with sodium content.     

Effect of algalization on seed germination of vegetable crops

Soaking seeds of cucumber and pumpkin with an extract of Westiellopsis prolifica, an N₂-fixing cyanobacterium, promoted germination and their subsequent growth and development. An extract of Lyngbya sp., a non-N₂-fixing cyanobacterium, had no significant effect.The authors are with the Algal Physiology Laboratory, Department of Botany, Berhampur University, Berhampur-760007, Orissa, India.     

降水对鄂尔多斯高原克隆植物分布的影响

鄂尔多斯高原地处半干旱区到干旱区的过渡带。通过沿鄂尔多斯高原从东到西的天然降水梯度的样带调查,分析了克隆植物的分布特征与降水的关系。结果表明:克隆植物的物种数量、占物种总数的比例和重要值以及根状茎型克隆植物的物种数量均与降水量呈显著正相关。5种优势植物克氏针茅、本氏针茅、黑沙蒿、赖草和短花针茅均为克隆植物,它们的分布也受降水影响。克氏针茅的密度、本氏针茅的盖度和密度、黑沙蒿的高度、盖度和密度以及赖草的高度均与降水量呈显著正相关。然而,赖草的盖度以及短花针茅的高度、盖度和密度均与降水量成负相关。因此,克隆植物在鄂尔多斯高原植被中具有重要作用,而且其作用随着降水量的增加而加强。     

Structures of acidic O-linked polylactosaminoglycans on human skim milk mucins

O-Linked glycans were isolated from human skim milk mucins or mucin-derived high-molecular weight glycopeptides and fractionated by anion exchange chromatography into neutral and acidic alditols. Major oligosaccharides contained in the acidic fraction were purified by high performance liquid chromatography and structurally characterized by a combination of fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry, methylation analysis and 500 MHz 1H-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The structural aspects exhibited by these major species in the acidic fraction resemble those established previously for the neutral oligosaccharides from human skim milk mucins: 1) the size of the alditols varies from tri- to decasaccharides, 2) the core structure is of the ubiquitous type 2, 3) the backbone sequences are of the poly-N-acetyllactosamine type with a particular preponderance of linearly extended GlcNAc beta(1-3)Gal (major) or GlcNAc beta(1-6)Gal units (minor).     

Effects of irrigation frequency on germination and on root and shoot yields ofAcacia species

Summary Maximum germination response and root + shoot yields of Acacias were obtained at daily irrigation. Any deviation from daily irrigation resulted in variations of performance (germination and growth yield) between the six Acacia species studied. Species of relatively dry habitse.g. A. nubica andA. seyal were more sensitive to water supply compared with those of relatively wet habitatse.g. A. nilotica andA. albida. This was reflected at the establishment phase by the greater production of root + shoot yields of species of drier zones than by those of wetter ones. It is concluded that variations in water supply may account for species adaptation and distribution in semi-arid zones.     

Effect of nitrogen supply rate on disease resistance in tomato depends on the pathogen

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of tissue nitrogen concentration, as a consequence of nitrogen supply rate, on the susceptibility of tomato plants to three pathogens. We varied tissue N concentration by supplying N at different rates by adding nitrate in different, exponentially increasing amounts to the nutrient solution on which the tomato plants were grown. Separate experiments were carried out to test susceptibility of tomato plants to the bacterial speck-causing Pseudomonas syringae pv tomato, to the wilt agent Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici and to tomato powdery mildew caused by Oidium lycopersicum. The effect of tissue N concentration appeared to be highly pathogen-dependent: there was no effect on susceptibility to F. oxysporum, but susceptibility to P. syringae and O. lycopersicum increased significantly with increasing N concentration. We have previously demonstrated the opposite for susceptibility to Botrytis cinerea: decreasing susceptibility with increasing N concentration. The apparent contradictory effects are discussed in relation to the effect of N supply on both the nutritional value of the plant tissue to the pathogen and on the concentration of resistance-related compounds. We conclude that the effect of changing both characteristics on disease susceptibility is highly pathogen-specific and is probably dependent on differences in resource requirements of the pathogen or the sensitivity of the pathogen to plant resistance reactions or on both these factors. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Preliminary studies on the mechanisms of action of phosphonic analogues of morphactins on plants and bacteria

Two classes of phosphonopeptides, those containing P-terminal 9-aminofluoren-9-ylphos-phonic acid and those of dialkyl 9-aminofluoren-9-ylphosphine oxides, influence plant growth according to different mechanisms. The effect of these compounds on the growth of several bacterial species, including the photosynthetic bacteriumRhodospirillum rubrum, as well as on the activity of photosystems 1 and 2 in isolatedPisum sativum andSpirodela oligorrhiza chloroplasts was studied. The peptides of free, unblocked 9-aminofluoren-9-ylphosphonic acid acted in a morphactin-like manner, whereas those of dialkyl 9-aminofluoren-9-ylphosphine oxides influenced photosynthesis indirectly.     

Relative susceptibility to predation of two species of caterpillar on plantain

Summary The relative susceptibility to predators of a cryptic generalist caterpillar (Spilosoma congrua: Arctiidae) and a non-cryptic specialist (Junonia coenia: Nymphalidae) using the same hostplant species (Plantago lanceolata) was examined. In a laboratory experiment using predatory stinkbugs (Podisus maculiventris), more Junonia caterpillars than Spilosoma caterpillars were killed (70% vs. 16%). This result was a consequence of the Spilosoma spending some time under cover, moving frequently, feeding on leaves while under or adjacent to them, and spending little time on the leaves. In a field experiment using predatory wasps (Polistes fuscatus), the wasps found 7 times as many of the Junonia as the Spilosoma, and overall 6 times as many Junonia were killed as Spilosoma. Initially, 71% of the Junonia caterpillars encountered by wasps were killed, but by the fourth day of the test, only 22% of the Junonia encountered by wasps were killed. Over three full days of observations, a constant 50% of the Spilosoma caterpillars encountered by the wasps per day were killed. For the Junonia, evasion of predators rested on passive chemical defense. For the Spilosoma, evasion depended on being unapparent, speedy movement between feeding and resting sites and, if found, on fleeing immediately and quickly. These results indicate that Spilosoma caterpillars, by way of cryptic and escape behaviors, can be less susceptible to insect predators than Junonia caterpillars.