A general model for host plant selection in phytophagous insects

We develop a general theoretical framework for exploring the host plant selection behaviour of herbivorous insects. This model can be used to address a number of questions, including the evolution of specialists, generalists, preference hierarchies, and learning. We use our model to: (i) demonstrate the consequences of the extent to which the reproductive success of a foraging female is limited by the rate at which they find host plants (host limitation) or the number of eggs they carry (egg limitation); (ii) emphasize the different consequences of variation in behaviour before and after landing on (locating) a host (termed pre- and post-alighting, respectively); (iii) show that, in contrast to previous predictions, learning can be favoured in post-alighting behaviour--in particular, individuals can be selected to concentrate oviposition on an abundant low-quality host, whilst ignoring a rare higher-quality host; (iv) emphasize the importance of interactions between mechanisms in favouring specialization or learning.     

Assessment of correlational selection on tolerance and resistance traits in a host plant–parasitic plant interaction

Resistance and tolerance are considered to be different plant strategies against disease. While resistance traits prevent hosts becoming parasitized or reduce the extent of parasitism, tolerance traits reduce the fitness-impact of parasitism on infected hosts. Theoretical considerations predict that in some circumstances mutual redundancy will give hosts with either high resistance or high tolerance a fitness advantage over hosts that exhibit both of these traits together. However, empirical evidence has provided mixed results. In this paper, I describe the pattern of phenotypic selection imposed by the holoparasitic mistletoe Tristerix aphyllus upon resistance (spine length) and tolerance (branching) traits in the cactus Echinopsis chilensis. Results indicate that branching was an efficient compensatory mechanism, reducing 75.5% of the fitness-impact attributable to parasitism. Even though both traits showed a negative correlation, as expected from the presence of allocation costs between strategies, no correlational selection coefficient was significant indicating that selection did not favor alternative combinations of traits. Consequently, I did not find evidence for selection promoting mutually exclusive defense strategies against the mistletoe, which suggests that tolerance and resistance traits may coexist stably in populations of E. chilensis.     

A recently acquired host plant provides an oligophagous insect herbivore with enemy-free space

Enemy-free space (EFS) is a potentially important factor affecting host plant use by phytophagous insects. Yet only a few field studies have demonstrated that natural enemy activity is the sole mechanism underlying use of novel host plants by herbivorous insects. This may be due to the fact that in earlier studies, both herbivores and natural enemies had the opportunity to adapt to the new host plant. Here we studied the possibility that EFS underlies the recently recorded increase in Phthorimaea operculella densities on tomato plants in a few areas within its geographical range. Through field experiments in Ethiopia, we show that all three conditions proposed by Berdegue et al. to demonstrate EFS are fulfilled. First, a significantly higher proportion of larvae survive on caged than on exposed potato plants, showing that natural enemies are an important mortality factor on the original host, potato. Second, larval survival was significantly higher on exposed tomato than potato plants, implying greater protection for the herbivore from its natural enemies on tomato than on potato plants. Thus tomato plants provide P. operculella with an EFS. Finally, larval survival was significantly higher on caged potato than on caged tomato plants at the preblossom stage, indicating that, in the absence of natural enemies, there is a fitness cost when larvae feed on the sub-optimal tomato plants. Fulfillment of this third condition points to the importance of natural enemy activity relative to that of other unidentified factors, such as food quality and competition. An intensive field survey provides further support for this conclusion.     

The genetic basis of larval resistance to a host plant toxin in Drosophila sechellia

The larvae of Drosophila sechellia are highly resistant to octanoic acid, a toxin found in D. sechellia's host plant, Morinda citrifolia. In contrast, close relatives of D. sechellia, D. simulans and D. melanogaster, are not resistant. In a series of interspecific backcrosses, 11 genetic markers were used to map factors affecting egg-to-adult ('larval') resistance in D. sechellia. The third chromosome harbours at least one partially dominant resistance factor. The second chromosome carries at least two mostly dominant resistance factors but no recessive factors. However, neither the X chromosome--which contains 20% of D. sechellia's genome--nor the fourth chromosome appear to affect resistance. These data suggest that larval resistance to Morinda toxin may involve only a handful of genes. These results, when compared with a previous analysis of adult resistance to Morinda toxin in D. sechellia, suggest that larval resistance may involve a subset of the genes underlying adult resistance.     

Association mapping of plant resistance to insects

Association mapping is rapidly becoming an important method to explore the genetic architecture of complex traits in plants and offers unique opportunities for studying resistance to insect herbivores. Recent studies indicate that there is a trade-off between resistance against generalist and specialist insects. Most studies, however, use a targeted approach that will easily miss important components of insect resistance. Genome-wide association mapping provides a comprehensive approach to explore the whole array of plant defense mechanisms in the context of the generalist-specialist paradigm. As association mapping involves the screening of large numbers of plant lines, specific and accurate high-throughput phenotyping (HTP) methods are needed. Here, we discuss the prospects of association mapping for insect resistance and HTP requirements.     

The molecular basis of host plant selection in Melaleuca quinquenervia by a successful biological control agent

Melaleuca quinquenervia (Cav) S.T. Blake (broadleaf paperbark) is an Australian tree that has become a serious weed in many places around the world. Two insects Oxyops vitiosa (the melaleuca weevil), and Boreioglycaspis melaleucae (the melaleuca psyllid), which were introduced to Florida as part of a biological control programme, have been very effective in reducing survival and reproduction of this weed. There are two terpene chemotypes of M. quinquenervia; one rich in the sesquiterpene E-nerolidol whereas the other is rich in viridiflorol. Viridiflorol is a strong feeding deterrent for the melaleuca weevil and retards larval development. The larvae therefore avoid the viridiflorol-rich chemotype, in contrast, female melaleuca psyllids prefer to oviposit on these leaves. To identify the molecular basis of these preferences, we isolated and characterised two terpene synthases from the viridiflorol-rich chemotype, both of which utilise farnesyl pyrophosphate and have the same product profile. Chemotypic variation in terpenes in M. quinquenervia is under strong genetic control and the reproductive potential of each chemotype is limited by a different insect. These insects could, therefore, be selective agents for the maintenance of chemotypic variation in M. quinquenervia.     

Food acceptance by a monophagous and an oligophagous insect in relation to seasonal changes in host plant suitability

Food acceptance by larvae of two lepidopteran species feeding on Rosaceae, viz. Yponomeuta evonymellus (monophagous) and Y. padellus (oligophagous), was compared. The influence of seasonal changes in plants as food for both insects was examined, in particular, the effects of nitrogen and sorbitol in leaves. In the laboratory, Y. evonymellus accepts Crataegus monogyna, a host plant of Y. padellus, and Y. padellus accepts Prunus padus, the host plant of Y. evonymellus. P. padus is the most suitable food plant for Y. evonymellus. No difference in food-quality for Y. padellus was found between C. monogyna and P. padus. The performance of both species on P. padus is less influenced by seasonal changes than on Crataegus. The suitability of Crataegus decreases during the season. This is probably caused by the decrease of its nitrogen content, and not by the decrease of sorbitol in the plant. The monophagous, Y. evonymellus, is more sensitive to seasonal changes in its food when fed with a non host plant than the oligophagous Y. padellus. In oviposition experiments both species have a preference for their normal host-plants.     

Chemical basis of plant leaf movement

Nyctinastic plants open and close leaves with a circadian rhythm. Here we discuss chemical aspects of the mechanism of nyctinastic leaf movement. Nyctinastic plants from five different genera are known to contain species-specific leaf-opening and leaf-closing factors. The relative concentrations of leaf-closing and leaf-opening factors of the nyctinastic plant Phyllanthus urinaria change circadianly, suggesting that nyctinastic movement is regulated by two classes of circadianly regulated factors with opposing functions. A closing and an opening factor of Albizzia, when linked to a fluorescent dye, both specifically labeled motor cells of pluvini. A membrane fraction of pluvini contains proteins of 210 and 180 kDa that bind to a leaf-opening factor of Cassia mimosoides. The molecular identification of these proteins is underway.     

Ecological and taxonomic trends in macrolepidopteran host plant selection

Patterns of host plant use by larvae of macrolepidoptera feeding on trees and shrubs in Britain and Canada are examined. The incidence of polyphagous species varies among different lepidopteran taxa. Among largely monophagous taxa host plant switching has often occurred. The greater similarity of insect faunas on closely related plants is documented using cluster analysis. The Canadian data reveal that lepidopterans feeding on conifers are less specific in their host plant choice than species feeding on angiosperms. The numerical analyses also provide evidence of greater overlap in the insect faunas of plants belonging to the same ecological association. These results are discussed with particular reference to Lepidoptera-plant coevolution.     

Effects of host plant architecture on colonization by galling insects

Abstract: To study the abundance and occurrence of herbivore insects on plants it is important to consider plant characteristics that may control the insects. In this study the following hypotheses were tested: (i) an increase of plant architecture increases species richness and abundance of gall‐inducing insects and (ii) plant architecture increases gall survival and decreases parasitism. Two hundred and forty plants of Baccharis pseudomyriocephala Teodoro (Asteraceae) were sampled, estimating the number of shoots, branches and their biomass. Species richness and abundance of galling insects were estimated per module, and mortality of the galls was assessed. Plant architecture influenced positively species richness, abundance and survival of galls. However, mortality of galling insects by parasitoids was low (13.26%) and was not affected by plant architecture, thus suggesting that other plant characteristics (a bottom‐up pressure) might influence gall‐inducing insect communities more than parasitism (a top‐down pressure). The opposite effect of herbivore insects on plant characteristics must also be considered, and such effects may only be assessed through manipulative experiments.     

A multiple-scale analysis of host plant selection in Lepidoptera

Lepidoptera play an important role in terrestrial ecosystems as pollinators, as components of the food chain and as indicators for healthy ecosystems due to their sensitivity to change. Heterogeneous landscapes with variability of topographical features, vegetation structure combined with food sources for all life stages are the basis for successful lepidopteran oviposition. A multiple-scale analysis is proposed to understand the hierarchical relationships between selected site to plant characteristics and oviposition preferences for the dingy skipper (Erynnis tages). To achieve this goal, factors driving oviposition at the plant and patch scale were identified and scale dependencies at the site scale were assessed. At the plant scale, tallest host plants were used for oviposition; however relative egg height upon each plant was similar in both host plant species [bird’s-foot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) and horseshoe vetch (Hippocrepis comosa)]. The main factors preferred by E. tages in L. corniculatus patches were sward height and percent of bare ground, and in H. comosa host plant density patches. Selected patches had slopes of greater gradients (mostly facing south) than patches with no selected host plants. At the site scale, oviposition patches were clustered at small scales and oviposition sites were dispersed at larger scales. Our study suggests that oviposition selection in E. tages is a hierarchical process varying from the site to the plant scale. Our study provides empirical evidence useful to inform landscape management strategies. These can be expanded to assess larger scale vegetation and habitat suitability beyond individual sites for systematic conservation planning.     

植物对昆虫不同防御类型及内在联系

植物与昆虫在长期的相互作用过程中,形成了复杂的防御体系。这个防御体系在时空方面都涉及多个层次,从而组成多个防御类型。本文首先总结了目前植物防御研究中的热点概念;而后根据文献并综合自己的研究,探讨了不同植物防御类型之间的相互关系,从机理上总结了各种植物防御类型的内在联系;最后,探讨了植物防御研究的发展趋势。本文从不同时空角度探讨了植物防御的概念及其相互关系,以期为研究者提供较为全面和深入的理论知识。     

The importance of plant relatedness for host utilization among phytophagous insects

Current methods for measuring similarity among phytophagous insect communities fail to consider the phylogenetic relationship between host plants. We analysed this relation based on 3580 host observations of 1174 beetle species associated with 100 species of angiosperms in two different forest types in Panama. We quantified the significance of genetic distance as well as taxonomic rank among angiosperms in relation to species overlap in beetle assemblages. A logarithmic model describing the decrease in beetle species similarity between host-plant species of increasing phylogenetic distance explains 35% of the variation. Applied to taxonomic rank categories the results imply that except for the ancient branching of monocots from dicots, only adaptive radiations of plants on the family and genus level are important for host utilization among phytophagous beetles. These findings enable improvements in estimating host specificity and species richness through correction for phylogenetic relatedness between hosts and consideration of the host-specific fauna associated with monocots.     

Reiterative and interruptive signaling in induced plant resistance to chewing insects

Our understanding of induced resistance against herbivores has grown immeasurably during the last several decades. Based upon the emerging literature, we argue that induced resistance represents a continuum of phenotypes that is determined by the plant’s ability to integrate multiple suites of signals of plant and herbivore origin. We present a model that illustrates the range of signals arising from early detection through herbivore feeding, and then through subsequent plant generations.     

植物抗病的分子生物学基础

随着分子生物学的不断发展,人们已逐步了解植物寄主与病原之间的相互作用及植物抗病的分子机理。植物受病原侵染后出现两种类型的卫反应：局部防卫反应（过敏反应）和系统获得性防卫反应。本质素、植保素、活性氧、水杨酸等物质已被证明了在植物抗病中起了重要作用。抗病基因和防卫基因的诱导表达构成了防卫反应的遗传基础。本文综述了近年来抗病的分子生物学研究进展,并对其发展和应用前景作了展望。     

Cue hierarchy for host plant selection in Pieris rapae

During oviposition, female insects utilize a wide variety of cues to find an optimal host for their offspring. These cues may be encountered simultaneously or sequentially, and females must rely on a hierarchical categorization to rank cues for optimal ovipositional choice. During alighting, cues are often encountered at different distances, which may influence hierarchical order. Cues that are observed at longer distances and are experienced first may be more influential on oviposition choice than those experienced at shorter distances. We tested the effects of two long‐distance cues, plant size and habitat structure, and two short‐distance cues, plant nitrogen level and predator presence, on Pieris rapae L. (Lepidoptera: Pieridae) oviposition choice through a series of two‐ and four‐choice tests in both greenhouse and field settings. We found that the long‐distance cues of plant size and habitat structure had the largest impact on P. rapae oviposition in laboratory and field settings, with females preferring large plants without habitat structure. Plant nitrogen level had a smaller impact on oviposition, and the presence of predators did not affect oviposition choice. However, plant size and plant nitrogen level had a synergistic relationship, with more eggs laid on large high‐nitrogen plants compared to large low‐nitrogen or small high‐nitrogen plants, suggesting that optimal cues throughout the entire searching process may be important for P. rapae in choosing a host plant.