A two-way gas transport system in Nelumbo nucifera

Abstract The aquatic vascular plant Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn. is able to improve its oxygen supply to the submerged and buried organs by a thermo-osmotic gas transport. Investigations with tracer gas and oxygen measurements have shown that thermo-osmotic gas transport exists in N. nucifera when there is a temperature difference between the lacunar air of the leaves and the surrounding atmosphere. The gas transport was increased by up to 935% when a temperature difference of 2.9 ± 1.0 K was detected. Lacunar pressure of up to 166 ± 44 Pa was measured in both young and old leaves. In contrast to the flow-through ventilation system recently described for Nuphar lutea and Nymphoides peltata, a two-way flow in separate air canals in the petioles of both young and old Nelumbo leaves may carry oxygen-rich air down to the rhizome and excess air back to the atmosphere. Anatomical investigations have shown that, in Nelumbo, the two largest air canals of the petiole end directly under the mesh system of the centre plate. These large air canals are proposed to be predominant in the upward flow of air in sunlight. The other air canals of the petiole veer into the leaf blade well below the centre plate. The gas flow system through fresh leaves may carry as much as 10.3 ± 4.5 cm³ air per minute to the buried rhizome.     

Competitive Performance of Nymphoides Peltata (Gmel.) O. Kuntze Growing in Microcosm

Two experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of competition on growth and performance of Nymphoides peltata (Gmel.) O. Kuntze in microcosm. Part of the research on growth and biomass allocation of N. peltata in response to competition had been reported early (Wu, Z. & D. Yu, 2004, Hydrobiologia 527: 241–250). This paper focuses on the morphological variations of N. peltata under competitive pressure. First, competition between N. peltata and Zizania latifolia (Griseb.) Turcz. ex Stapf. was assigned with the densities of N. peltata to Z. latifolia ratios of 4:0, 4:2, 4:4 and 4:8. Water surface coverage, surface area per leaf blade and number of leaves per plant of N. peltata all declined significantly with increasing density of competitor. Similar results were also found for petiole length and density of branching. However, the variations of planting density did not significantly affect the number of ramets per plant and the stolon length of N. peltata. Second, competitions between N. peltata and emerged Z. latifolia, floating-leaved Trapa bispinosa Roxb. and submerged Myriophyllum spicatum L. were also studied simultaneously. The results showed that significant difference was only found for the water surface coverage of N. peltata. No other significant differences were found for the number of ramets per plant, number of leaves per plant, density of branching, surface area per leaf blade, petiole length, and stolon length of N. peltata. Our studies indicate that N. peltata presents morphological variations when it is growing with Z. latifolia, such that the growth of above-ground parts decrease (i.e., leaf number, petiole length, branching density) and the growth of below-ground parts remains stable (i.e., stolons length). However, N. peltata does not show apparent differences in morphology when it is growing with T. bispinosa or M. spicatum. Accordingly, we conclude that the growth of N. peltata may be apparently inhibited by the presence of Z. latifolia, while T. bispinosa and M. spicatum may have little impact on the growth and performance of N. peltata.     

Ethylene and growth control in the fringed waterlily (Nymphoides peltata): Stimulation of cell division and interaction with buoyant tension in petioles

The effect of ethylene on petiole growth of the Fringed Waterlily (Nymphoides peltata (S.G. Gmelin) O. Kuntze) changes during leaf ontogeny. During early development (before expansion of laminae), ethylene causes an increase in both cell number and cell size; later in development, promotion of rapid cell expansion is the dominant effect. The early effects may contribute to the accommodation of new leaves to water columns of different depth. The later effects on cell expansion only are shown to contribute to the rapid accommodation of floating leaves when changes in water level submerge the laminae. This kind of accommodation results from an interaction between accumulated ethylene, which increases wall extensibility, and the tension in petioles due to natural buoyancy which, it is suggested, supplements the driving force for cell expansion. Cell age (position) within a petiole and age of the whole petiole influence the growth response to ethylene alone and the amount of extra growth produced by applying tension when ethylene is present. In young petioles, apical cells are highly sensitive to ethylene and tension causes little further growth; older cells in both immature and mature petioles show little response to ethylene unless the petiole is under tension. Young (but not mature) petioles respond slowly to applied tension even in the absence of ethylene. It is concluded that as cells age the driving force for expansion limits increasingly their capacity to respond to the wall-loosening effects of ethylene. Dual sensitivity to ethylene and buoyant tension facilitates rapid accommodation responses but sensitivity of young petioles to tension alone may exclude Nymphoides from habitats where current velocity is appreciable.     

Allometric relationships ofmalva parviflora growing in two different bioclimatic regions

A total of 660 individual plants ofMalva parviflora, a medicinal plant in many countries, growing in two bioclimatic regions were randomly collected with the aim of examining the differences in the allometry of this herbaceous plant growing in two bioclimatic regions. Allometric relationships were found in plant height, stem width, leaf area, leaf length, leaf width, petiole length, and leaf dry weight whereas no relationship was found between plant height or petiole length with specific leaf area. Plants growing in the cool bioclimatic region showed that plant height increases more than the increase in stem width, leaf length, leaf width, and petiole length while plants growing in the warm bioclimatic region showed that plant height increase was lower than that of stem width, leaf length, leaf width, and petiole length. Plant height relationship with root length indicated that in the cool region the plant height increase was less than the increase in the root length while the opposite occurred in the warm region. These differences can be explained by the effects of the different environmental conditions present in the two bioclimatic regions such as water scarcity and availability on the growth ofM. parviflora.     

Knudsen-transitional flow and gas pressurization in leaves of nelumbo

Pressures in gas spaces of leaves of the lotus Nelumbo are higher than ambient pressure. The pressurization capacity of leaves was studied as a function of leaf temperature, and the composition of air entering evacuated leaves was used to calibrate the pore sizes which determine flow in these leaves. The adaxial side of the leaf of Nelumbo has two distinct regions in terms of gas exchange characteristics. There is a region of relatively high mean pore diameter in the center of the leaf opposite the point of petiole insertion. Gas exchange between the remainder of the leaf (>99% by area) and the atmosphere is restricted by “pores” with an effective mean diameter less than 0.03 micrometer. As a result, a flowthrough ventilation operates within each leaf. Air enters the leaf across the expanse of the lamina, and escapes back to the atmosphere through the highly porous region at the center of the lamina.     

Genomic fingerprinting of Frankia strains by PCR-based techniques. Assessment of a primer based on the sequence of 16S rRNA gene of Escherichia coli

Submergence stimulates elongation of the leaves of Rumex palustris and under laboratory conditions the maximum final leaf length (of plants up to 7 weeks old) was obtained within a 9 day period. This elongation response, mainly determined by petiole elongation, depends on the availability of storage compounds and developmental stage of a leaf. A starch accumulating tap root and mature leaves and petioles were found to supply elongating leaves with substrates for polysaccharide synthesis in expanding cell walls. Changes in the composition of cell wall polysaccharides of elongated petioles suggest a substantial cell wall metabolism during cell extension. Reduced starch levels or removal of mature leaves caused a substantial limitation of submerged leaf growth. From the 5th leaf onward enough reserves were available to perform submerged leaf growth from early developmental stages. Very young petioles had a limited capacity to elongate. In slightly older petioles submergence resulted in the longest final leaf lengths and these values gradually decreased when submergence was started at more mature developmental stages. Submerged leaf growth is mainly a matter of petiole elongation in which cell elongation has a concurrent synthesis of xylem elements in the vascular tissue. Mature petioles still elongated (when submerged) by cell and tissue elongation only: the annular tracheary elements stretched enabling up to 70% petiole elongation.     

Sensitivity to ethylene: the key factor in submergence-induced shoot elongation of Rumex

Rosettes of flooding-resistant Rumex palustris plants show a submergence-induced stimulation of elongation, which is confined to the petioles of young leaves. This response increases the probability of survival. It is induced by ethylene that accumulates in submerged tissues. Flooding-intolerant Rumex acetosella plants do not show this response. We investigated whether differences in shoot elongation between the species, between old and young leaves and between the petiole and leaf blade of a R. palustris plant result from differences in internal ethylene concentration or in sensitivity to the gas. Concentrations of free and conjugated ACC in petioles and leaf blades of R. palustris indicated that ethylene is synthesized throughout the submerged shoot, although production rates varied locally. Nevertheless, no differences in ethylene concentration were found between submerged leaves of various ages. In contrast, dose-response curves showed that only elongation of young petioles of R. palustris was sensitive to ethylene. In R. acetosella, elongation of all leaves was insensitive to ethylene. We conclude that variation in ethylene sensitivity rather than content explains the differences in submergence-induced shoot elongation between the two Rumex species and between leaves of R. palustris.     

The temperature dependence of shoot hydraulic resistance: implications for stomatal behaviour and hydraulic limitation

Recent soil pressurization experiments have shown that stomatal closure in response to high leaf–air humidity gradients can be explained by direct feedback from leaf water potential. The more complex temperature‐by‐humidity interactive effects on stomatal conductance have not yet been explained fully. Measurements of the change in shoot conductance with temperature were made on Phaseolus vulgaris (common bean) to test whether temperature‐induced changes in the liquid‐phase transport capacity could explain these temperature‐ by‐humidity effects. In addition, shoot hydraulic resistances were partitioned within the stem and leaves to determine whether or not leaves exhibit a greater resistance. Changes in hydraulic conductance were calculated based on an Ohm’s law analogy. Whole‐plant gas exchange was used to determine steady‐ state transpiration rates. A combination of in situ psychrometer measurements, Scholander pressure chamber measurements and psychrometric measurements of leaf punches was used to determine water potential differences within the shoot. Hydraulic conductance for each portion of the pathway was estimated as the total flow divided by the water potential difference. Temperature‐induced changes in stomatal conductance were correlated linearly with temperature‐induced changes in hydraulic conductance. The magnitude of the temperature‐induced changes in whole‐plant hydraulic conductance was sufficient to account for the interactive effects of temperature and humidity on stomatal conductance.     

Lymantria dispar herbivory induces rapid changes in carbon transport and partitioning in Populus nigra

We tested for rapid changes in photosynthate transport and partitioning in response to Lymantria dispar (L.) (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae) (gypsy moth) herbivory in Populus nigra L. (Salicaceae). Transport and partitioning of [¹¹C]-photosynthate from young mature leaves were measured in vivo before and 18 h after leaf chewing by gypsy moth larvae, which were caged on three older leaves. Following herbivory, there was an increase in export speed of recently fixed carbon from younger mature leaves. The increased export speed was due to a quicker transit time of ¹¹C through the leaf, rather than a change in transport speed through the phloem. Additionally, basipetal partitioning of [¹¹C]-photosynthate was increased following herbivory. Neither of these changes was observed in control plants. This enhancement of export occurs even though herbivores are well known to induce increases in carbon allocation to secondary metabolites within leaves. Our results demonstrate that the use of non-destructive imaging of ¹¹C tracer is a powerful tool for examining plant responses to herbivory. Although the mechanisms underlying the rapid increase in carbon flux to stems and roots remain to be elucidated, our results raise the possibility of a coordinated whole plant response to herbivory. Thus, even when the herbivore specializes on only one plant tissue type, a whole plant approach may be key to understanding how plants respond to herbivory.     

Gas transfer in floating-leaved plants

Pressurized gas transport with flow rates of 1.1 to 1.81 gas h^-1 plant^-1 have been detected in the floating-leaved aquatic macrophyte Euryale ferox on sunny days. The younger leaves gave the highest pressurization, but the gas flow was initiated mainly by the middle-aged leaves of the plants. The gas through-flow was shown to be highly beneficial for floating-leaved plants. It improved the oxygen level in the aerenchyma of the submerged organs of Nymphaea alba and Nymphoides peltata, and doubled the ATP level in the root tissues. On the other hand, the sulphur dioxide fumigation experiments on Nymphaea odorata indicated that the pressurized gas transport may adversely affect the floating-leaved plants, due to an increased contamination of the leaves leading to increased photo bleaching and impaired photosynthesis.Abbreviations ATP adenosine triphosphate - FW fresh weight - SO₂ sulphur dioxide     

INTERNAL PHLOEM IN THE PULVINUS OF SOYBEAN PLANTS

Glycine max, like many species of Fabaceae, has pulvini at the base of the petiole. In this structure, the vascular cylinder is constricted and consists of a ring of phloem surrounding a ring of xylem. A combination of light and transmission electron microscopy and histochemistry showed that, in addition, there are groups of internal phloem strands in the pulvinar pith. This was confirmed by direct observation of sieve plates and crystalline P-protein inclusions typical of leguminous sievetube members. Serial sections through the stem–pulvinus–petiole revealed that a spatial reorientation of the vascular tissue in the pulvinus resulted in the formation of internal phloem strands, which are continuous with the external phloem bundles above and below the pulvinus. Using 6(5)carboxyfluorescein (6CF) as a fluorescent tracer of phloem transport, we have shown that the internal phloem was active. In most of the experiments, when 6CF was applied to a source leaf, the internal phloem was not stained when the stem was girdled between the source leaf and the roots. Thus, we suggest that the internal phloem of the pulvinus of soybean is specialized for transport toward the root.     

A DEVELOPMENTAL STUDY OF THE LEAVES OF NICOTIANA GLUTINOSA AS RELATED TO THEIR SMOG–SENSITIVITY

Glater , Ruth Bobrov , Richard A. Solberg , and Flora M. Scott . (U. California, Los Angeles, and Los Angeles County Air Pollution Control District.) A developmental study of the leaves of Nicotiana glutinosa as related to their smog-sensitivity. Amer. Jour. Bot. 49(9): 954–970. Illus. 1962.—Plants growing in the fields of Los Angeles County as well as those experimentally fumigated in the laboratory show gross markings in response to smog which vary from species to species, from a glistening appearance of the leaf undersurface due to a temporary accumulation of water in the affected cells through complete necrosis. In dicotyledonous leaves, “silvering,” “bronzing,” brown-black mottling or an increase in anthocyanin may be seen. In monocotyledons, transverse banding, tan in color, or longitudinal streaking of leaves are the usual responses. This damage appears in a characteristic pattern on the leaves, different from that produced by other phytotoxicants. Nicotiana glutinosa plants were grown in the air-filtered greenhouses at UCLA. The normal anatomical development of the foliage was studied and correlated with its susceptibility to smog injury. On a given plant, leaves of different ages show damage in different positions. Very young leaves at the apex of the plant and old leaves at the base of the plant are not sensitive. Expanding leaves between young and old in age are sensitive; in this group a distinct pattern of damage is discernible. Damage markings in the youngest leaves appear only at the tip; in leaves somewhat older, close to midblade; in fully mature leaves, only at the base. This localization of damage is shown to be correlated with the gradient of cellular differentiation from tip toward base as the leaf matures. Those cells which have just attained maximum size (young mature) are sensitive; damage, therefore, is a function of cellular development and maturity. The following anatomical details were analyzed: (1) differentiation and distribution of stomata and their opening and closing on both upper and lower epidermal surfaces and (2) development of intercellular air spaces in palisade and spongy parenchyma tissue. These studies indicate that damage occurs in the region of the leaf where stomata have just become functional and ambient polluted air can make direct contact with interior leaf tissues by virtue of large substomatal chambers and intercellular air spaces.     

Studies on leaflet abscission of blue lupin leaves

Summary In blue lupin leaves, each leaflet abscises at an abscission zone situated in the pulvinus at its base. The time to abscission of leaflets of detached leaves is proportional to leaf age. Light accelerates abscission; within certain limits the acceleration is the greater the younger the leaf. At a given concentration, kinetin applied to a single leaflet accelerates leaflet abscission in young leaves kept in darkness, delays it in older ones. There is an interaction between kinetin and light which is dependent also on leaf age and kinetin concentration. The leaf can be considered as consisting of three regions, the petiole, the pulvinar region and the leaflets. The effects of kinetin and of light as well as their interactions depent on the regions of the leaf treated with these agents. Kinetin applied to a leaflet of a young leaf kept in darkness accelerates abscission, but kinetin applied to the pulvinar region of a similar leaf kept in darkness delays abscission. When any part of a leaf is illuminated, abscission is accelerated. The most light-sensitive region of the leaf is the pulvinar region, despite its relatively small area. Acceleration of abscission by light is greatest when illumination of the pulvinar region is combined with illumination of either the leaflets or the petiole. The interaction of light with kinetin is complex. Where the illuminated area includes the pulvinar region, kinetin delays abscission. This effect is most marked in the case where the pulvinar region alone is illuminated and kinetin is applied to a leaflet.Intrafoliar abscission as found in lupin leaves permits study of complex interactions of both distal and proximal stimuli involved in abscission.     

How do soil nutrients affect within-plant patterns of herbivory in seedlings of Eucalyptus nitens?

This study assessed how the palatability of leaves of different age classes (young, intermediate and older) of Eucalyptus nitens seedlings varied with plant nutrient status, based on captive feeding trials with two mammalian herbivores, red-bellied pademelons (Thylogale billardierii), and common brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula). Seedlings were grown under three nutrient treatments (low, medium and high), and we determined how palatability was related to chemical and physical characteristics of the leaves. Pademelons ate more older leaves than young and intermediate leaves for all treatments. This pattern was best explained by sideroxylonals (formylated phloroglucinol compounds known to deter herbivory by other marsupials), and/or essential oil compounds that were present in lower concentrations in older leaves. In the low-nutrient treatment, possums also ate more of the older leaves. However, in the medium- and high-nutrient treatments, possums ate more intermediate leaves than older leaves and showed a behavioural preference for young leaves (consuming younger leaves first) over intermediate and older leaves, in spite of high levels of sideroxylonals and essential oils. The young leaves did, however, have the highest nitrogen concentration of all the leaf age classes. Thus, either sideroxylonals and essential oils provided little or no deterrent to possums, or the deterrent was outweighed by other factors such as high nitrogen. This study indicates that mammalian herbivores show different levels of relative use and damage to leaf age classes at varying levels of plant nutrient status and, therefore, their impact on plant fitness may vary with environment.     

The Importance of Water Vapour for the Circulating Air Flow through Nelumbo nucifera

Aquatic vascular plants depend on an adequate oxygen supplyin order to maintain growth and reproduction in anaerobic environments.Nelumbo nucifera is able to survive with a gas transport systemwhich supplies oxygen to the roots and rhizomes submerged inthe anaerobic sediment. It was possible to demonstrate thatthis gas transport system is based on a purely physical phenomenonThermo-osmotic oxygen transport was first demonstrated on freshleaves with the help of an oxygen-sensitive electrode. A definiteenhancement of oxygen flow was obtained through excised leaveswhen a temperature difference between the ambient and lacunarair was present in light. These leaves were then dried to brittlenessand the enhanced oxygen flow was still detectable. This showsthat not only photosynthetic oxygen, but also atmospheric oxygencan be transported to the buried organs. The absolute flow ofoxygen through dry leaves was much lower than through freshleaves, but the thermo-osmotic transport of oxygen still functioned.Furthermore, the process of thermo-osmosis need not rely ona difference in humidity between the two sides of a porous partition,but may be linked causally to the temperature difference andthe pore size. Key words: Nelumbo nucifera, oxygen transport, thermo-osmosis of gases     

Stomata actively regulate internal aeration of the sacred lotus Nelumbo nucifera

The sacred lotus Nelumbo nucifera (Gaertn.) possesses a complex system of gas canals that channel pressurized air from its leaves, down through its petioles and rhizomes, before venting this air back to the atmosphere through large stomata found in the centre of every lotus leaf. These central plate stomata (CPS) lie over a gas canal junction that connects with two‐thirds of the gas canals within the leaf blade and with the larger of two discrete pairs of gas canals within the petiole that join with those in the rhizome. It is hypothesized that the lotus actively regulates the pressure, direction and rate of airflow within its gas canals by opening and closing these stomata. Impression casting the CPS reveal that they are open in the morning, close at midday and reopen in the afternoon. The periodic closure of the CPS during the day coincides with a temporary reversal in airflow direction within the petiolar gas canals. Experiments show that the conductance of the CPS decreases in response to increasing light level. This behaviour ventilates the rhizome and possibly directs benthic CO₂ towards photosynthesis in the leaves. These results demonstrate a novel function for stomata: the active regulation of convective airflow.     

Brown spot disease of citrus caused by Phaeoisariopsis sp.

Brown spot disease of Citrus spp. was shown to be caused by Phaeoisariopsis sp. It severely affects all varieties of sweet orange, tangerine, grapefruit, lime and rough lemon, smooth lemon being relatively resistant. Fruits and leaves are much more susceptible than stems on which symptoms are rare. On the young fruit circular, slightly sunken, brown necrotic lesions are often associated with a surrounding ring of raised epicarp, giving the fruit a blistered appearance. Lesions on older fruits are usually flat and brown and surrounded by yellow haloes. Premature abscission, especially of young fruits, is common. Leaf symptoms start as greenish yellow patches and a fully formed leaf spot consists of light brown or greyish centre which is surrounded by a dark brown margin bordered by a yellow halo. Generalised foliar chlorosis, caused by coalescence of several lesions, culminates in premature defoliation. During wet weather, centres of both fruit and foliar lesions sporulate and become black. Stem lesions, dark brown and mostly occurring as extensions of petiole lesions, may coalesce causing stem die-back or resulting in the formation of corky internodal lesions. In artificial culture, the fungus sporulated only on media containing an extract of citrus leaf or fruit peel. The characteristics of the fungus mostly based on examination of structures formed on naturally infected parts of the plant, are described. This is probably the first report of a Phaeoisariopsis sp. on citrus.     

Intra‐plant heterogeneity influences the preference and performance of juveniles and adults of a gall midge

Abstract 1. Field studies were conducted to evaluate the preference and performance of a gall‐inducing midge (Harmandia tremulae) within the crown of trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides). Females did not select oviposition sites preferentially within leaves, but did lay preferentially on young leaves. 2. Larvae were the only life stage involved in gall site selection within leaves and in gall initiation and development. Gall size, which was positively related to survival, was highest for galls on mid veins that were located close to the petiole. However, one‐third of galls were located on lateral veins and most galls were not adjacent to the petiole, indicating that many larvae choose sub‐optimal gall initiation sites. 3. Gall density was positively associated with leaf length, and leaf length, was positively associated with gall size. However, gall density per leaf was not related to larval survival in galls. This latter result may be a result of an observed inverse relationship between gall size and gall density for similar‐sized leaves. 4. The results partially support the plant vigour and optimal plant module size hypotheses, which predict that galler fitness in successfully induced galls should be highest on large, fast‐growing plant modules. The lack of a strong preference‐performance link supports the confusion hypothesis, which predicts that oviposition and gall site selection may often be suboptimal in systems where galler lifespan is short. This study suggests that small‐scale variations in plant quality within leaves, can render gall site selection by juveniles as important as that previously reported for adult females.     

Differential responses of the floating-leaved aquatic plant Nymphoides peltata to gradual versus rapid increases in water levels

We compared the growth responses of the floating-leaved species Nymphoides peltata to gradual and rapid rising water levels under two nutrient concentrations (1 g and 12 g of slow released fertilizer (N-P-K: 16-8-12) per container filled with 8 kg washed sand), and predicted the population expansion after these floods. The results showed that the capacity for petiole elongation was dependent on leaf age, and only leaves that were no more than five days old had the capability to reach the water surface when the water level increased rapidly from 50 cm to 300 cm. Plants subjected to a gradual rising water level tracked the increase in water depth whose petioles elongated at 3.96 ± 1.70 cm per day and 4.80 ± 0.16 cm per day under low and high nutrient concentrations respectively throughout the experiment period. When water levels were rapidly raised, leaf petioles elongated rapidly at 25.48 ± 1.51 cm per day and 26.64 ± 2.24 cm per day under low and high nutrient concentrations respectively during the first ten days. Plants under a constant water level maintained highest mean leaf recruitment (mean 3.0 ± 0.33 leaves and 24.4 ± 5.87 leaves every ten days under low and high nutrient concentrations, respectively). Therefore, more young leaves existed in the canopy ensuring that when the water level increases, young leaves can rapidly emerge after submergence. Gradual water level rise did not significantly affect biomass and ramet production (4.75 ± 1.41 g and 5.50 ± 1.22 ramets in low nutrient; 48.49 ± 21.45 g and 35.67 ± 11.78 ramets in high nutrient), but rapid water level rise negatively affected ramet production in both nutrient concentrations (3.00 ± 1.26 ramets and 11.25 ± 4.19 ramets in low and high nutrients, respectively). The results indicated that continual leaf recruitment and rapid petiole elongation were both important ways in which N. peltata adapted to increasing water levels. Extreme flooding may be a disturbance factor that affects plant growth and the population expansion of N. peltata, while small gradual water level rise should not harm this species.     

Young leaf protection in the shrub Leea glabra in south-west China: the role of extrafloral nectaries and ants

Field experiments on Leea glabra in its natural forest habitat of southern Yunnan, China were conducted to study the effects of artificial damage of young and old leaves on extrafloral nectaries (EFNs) secretion quantity and sugar concentration, as well as the effects on ant abundance on the plants following the damage treatments. We found there were no rapid changes in extrafloral nectar volume or nectar sugar concentration which would indicate an induced reaction following artificial damage. However, both cutting and punching of young leaves resulted in a significant increase (2–4-fold) of ants within 6 h after damage compared to undamaged controls. In another experiment, disks of fresh young L. glabra leaves that were pinned on young leaves of another L.glabra plant also resulted in a significant increase in the number of ants compared to treatment with paper disks, indicating that ants were most probably attracted by volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released from damaged young leaves. Furthermore, we found that portion of damaged leaf area of young leaves was significantly lower than that of old leaves and the concentration of tannins was significantly higher in young than in medium and old leaves. In conclusion, our results show that young leaves of L. glabra are protected against attacks by herbivores by multiple mechanisms, which include: (1) the activity of EFNs, which attract different ant species from the surrounding ground; (2) a mechanism induced by the damage of young leaves, which leads to rapidly increased ant recruitment and is most probably caused by the release of volatiles from damaged leaf and (3) a higher allocation of tannins in young than in older leaves.