The effect of a foliar disease (rust) on the development of Gastrophysa viridula (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

Abstract.

• 1 Gastrophysa viridula Degeer (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) and the pathogenic rust fungus Uromyces rumicis (Schum.) Wint. both occur on leaves of Rumex crispus L. and R.obtusifolius L. Individual stages of beetle development, and egg laying, were compared on healthy and infected leaves of each plant species in the laboratory. Oviposition choice was investigated in the field and laboratory.
• 2 Beetles reared on infected leaves of each species had greater larval mortality and slower development than those reared on healthy leaves. Although larvae feeding on infected leaves consumed up to 2.5 times more dry weight than those reared on healthy leaves, they had a lower relative growth rate and pupated at a lower weight. These changes were consistent with the reduced nutritive quality of rust-infected Rumex leaves.
• 3 Fecundity of beetles reared on infected leaves of both species was considerably reduced. Eggs laid by beetles feeding on infected R.crispus leaves also had a reduced viability.
• 4 The beetle developed consistently poorer on healthy R.crispus than on healthy R.obtusifolius throughout its life-cycle. Differences in larval performance were greater between host species than between infected and healthy leaves.
• 5 Oviposition was similar on infected and healthy R.crispus in both the laboratory and field. However, adults consumed less, and laid fewer eggs on infected than on healthy R.obtusifolius. The pattern of egg laying on different aged leaves was affected by rust infection: a greater proportion of eggs was laid on the older, infected leaves, than on the equivalent aged leaves on the healthy plants. Few larvae survived from eggs laid on rusted leaves in the field.

     

Population dynamics of insects associated with Rumex obtusifolius in different habitats

The effect of different habitats on insect communities associated with Rumex obtusifolius was studied in detail. Study sites were selected for their variety of environmental characteristics (vegetation and habitat): shaded woodland, disturbed wasteland and pasture. The results of this study were that insect populations associated with R. obtusifolius responded differently to the different habitats. The observed differences in population dynamics among the insects showed quite clearly their responses to different habitats. There was also a pattern of time partitioning in the exploitation of the host‐plant among the insect species observed. Philaenus spumarius at nymphal stage had a peak density on approximately 20 June, Apion frumentarium and Apion spp. (Apion species other than A. frumentarium) had a peak density on approximately 30 June and Aphis rumicis had a peak density on approximately 28 July. This pattern of shift in time for peak population density (time‐shift) among the insects sharing a common host‐plant may guarantee each insect the opportunity to exploit the plant to a maximum.     

Effects of within-plant Variation in Leaf Quality on the Ecology of G. viridula

ABSTRACT In order to find out the relationship between the leaf quality of R. obtusifolius and the ecology of G. viridula , a series of experiments was carried out. The effects of leaf age on rates of growth of instars of G. viridula showed that the leaf age was closely related to the development of the larvae of G. viridula . Also, the results showed quite clearly that the N concentration of R. obtusifolius leaves have significant effects on the growth rates of G. viridula larvae. It is suggested that C: N ratio of food plant plays an important role in the population dynamics of phytophagous insects. A small increase in leaf N concentration in a nutrient poor habitat will substantially increase the G. viridula population.     

Modification of coevolved insect–plant interactions by an exotic plant pathogen

New Perspectives is intended to allow the communication of comments, viewpoints, and speculative interpretation of issues in ecology pertinent to entomology. Comments, viewpoints, or suggestions arising from published papers intended to fuel discussion and debate are also welcome. Contributions should be as concise as possible, normally not exceeding two thousand words. Formal research reports will not be acceptable, but summarised novel data, suitably supported by statistics, may be allowed.     

The effect of nitrogen fertilization and rust fungus infection, singly and combined, on the leaf chemical composition of Rumex obtusifolius

1. The chrysomelid beetle Gastrophysa viridula occurs on Rumex obtusifolius growing in a range of nutrient conditions and also on plants infected with the foliar fungus Uromyces rumicis . In a controlled environment, we investigated the effect of fertilizing plants with eight nitrate and four ammonium concentrations, with or without infection, on leaf nutritional quality.
2. Increasing nitrate fertilization increased leaf oxalate, total nitrogen and nitrate concentrations and water content, and decreased total non-structural carbohydrate (NSC) concentrations. Increasing ammonium fertilization increased leaf nitrogen concentration and water content, decreased nitrate and NSC concentrations, and had no effect on oxalate concentrations.
3. Infection produced a mainly additive effect to fertilization, increasing NSC and oxalate, and decreasing nitrate and nitrogen concentration in whole plants fed nitrate, and increasing nitrate and NSC in whole plants fed ammonium.
4. Young leaves on infected plants remained uninfected and had greater nitrogen and NSC concentrations, and lower oxalate and nitrate concentrations, than infected leaves on the same plant.
5. These results are discussed in relation to changes in C:N and NSC:organic nitrogen ratios, the effect of nitrate and oxalate, and the known feeding and oviposition preferences of the beetle. The results suggest that there is an optimum nitrogen fertilization level for G. viridula development.     

Nitrogen losses from the soil/plant system: a review

Losses of nitrogen from the soil/plant system not only reduce soil fertility and plant yield but can also create adverse impacts on the environment. Ammonia emissions into the atmosphere contribute to acid rain and represent an indirect source of nitrous oxide greenhouse gas emissions. Nitrate leaching losses into rivers and lakes can cause eutrophication resulting in excessive growth of aquatic weeds and algae, which can reduce fish populations and the recreational value of the water. Nitrate contamination of drinking water supplies can cause health risks. Legislation that is designed to limit nitrate leaching losses from land has become a constraint on agricultural land use in many countries. Nitrous oxide emissions into the atmosphere contribute to the depletion of the ozone layer and also make a significant contribution to climate change. This review describes the nitrogen cycle in temperate soil/plant systems, the processes involved in each of the individual nitrogen loss pathways, the factors affecting the amounts of losses and the methods that are available to reduce these losses. The review has shown that careful management of temperate soil/plant systems using best management practices and newly developed technologies can increase the sustainability of agriculture and reduce its impact on the environment.     

Hydrodynamic studies on interactions between the components of the liver microsomal cytochrome P-450 system

To understand the different behaviour of cytochrome P-450 systems in kinetics as well as in the demethylase activity, sedimentation and molecular weight experiments have been carried out with the following results: 1) Sedimentation coefficients of solubilized P-450 and P-450 LM2 fractions amount to 24 +/- 4 [S] and 12.8 +/- 1.2 [S], respectively. Molecular weights were determined to be 1.0 +/- 0.2 . 10(6) and 3.0 +/- 0.5 . 10(5) Dalton. 2) Triton N-101 provokes splitting of the associated structure both of solubilized P-450 and P-450 LM2; this effect is reversible. 3) The dissociation depends not only on the absolute concentration of Triton but rather on the Triton P-450 ratio. The dissociation curves of solubilized P-450 and P-450 LM2 are similar in shape and in the Triton/P-450 ratio dependence. 4) In the presence of small concentrations of Triton a more complicated dissociation behaviour was observed with broad integral distribution of the sedimentation coefficients. 5) The ionic detergent cholate splits the associated structure of P-450 LM2 at considerably higher concentrations in comparison with Triton-N 101. 6) Addition of reductase causes a decrease of sedimentation coefficients and molecular weights of solubilized P-450. The same effect in P-450 LM2 could be observed only in the presence of phospholipids.     

Elevated CO2 affects the interactions between aphid pests and host plant flowering

1 Broad beans (Vicia faba L.) were grown at either ambient (350 μL/L) or elevated (700 μL/L) CO₂. Elevated CO₂ increased shoot weight by 14% and root weight by 24% compared to ambient, but did not affect flowering. 2 A single pea aphid (Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harris)) and its progeny decreased shoot and root weights by 20 and 24%, respectively, at ambient CO₂ after 20 days, but did not affect flower number. At elevated CO₂A. pisum decreased shoot and root weights by 27 and 34% and flower number decreased by 73%. 3 A single glasshouse and potato aphid (Aulacorthum solani (Kaltenbach)) and its progeny had no effect on the growth of bean plants after 20 days at ambient CO₂. At elevated CO₂, A. solani decreased shoot and root weights by 20 and 18%, and flower number by 60%. 4 The large reduction in flowering caused by aphids at elevated CO₂ suggests a change in resource allocation within the plants to compensate for aphid infestation. 5 Aphid density was unaffected by elevated CO₂, although there were significant effects of CO₂ on the resulting population structure of both A. pisum and A solani. We suggest that at elevated CO₂, aphids appear not to achieve their maximum reproductive potential and their populations are limited by the lower carrying capacity of their host plants.     

Interactions between nitrate and ammonium during uptake by carob seedlings and the effect of the form of earlier nitrogen nutrition

Seedlings of carob ( Ceratonia siliqua L. cv. Mulata) were used in two sets of experiments in order to evaluate; (1) the reciprocal effects of each nitrogen form on net uptake of nitrate and ammonium, and (2) the effect of earlier nitrogen nutrition on ammonium versus nitrate uptake. In the former group of experiments we studied the kinetics of nitrate and ammonium uptake as well as the interference of each of the two forms with net uptake of ammonium and nitrate by both nitrogen depleted and nitrogen fed carob seedlings. On the whole, nitrogen depletion led to increase in both affinity and V_max of the system for both forms of nitrogen, at the same time as the effects of nitrate on uptake of ammonium and vice versa were concentration dependent. In the second group of experiments the effects of earlier nitrogen nutrition on nitrate and ammonium uptake were characterized, and in this case we observed that: (a) if only one form of N was supplied, ammonium was taken up in greater amounts than nitrate; (b) the presence of ammonium enhanced nitrate uptake; (c) ammonium uptake was inhibited by nitrate; (d) there was a significant effect of the earlier nitrogen nutrition on the response of the plants to a different nitrogen source. The latter was evident mainly as regards ammonium uptake by plants grown in ammonium nitrate. The interactions between nitrate and ammonium uptake systems are discussed on the basis of the adaptation to the nitrogen source during early growth.     

Biophysical interactions between components of the tumor microenvironment promote metastasis

During metastasis, tumor cells need to adapt to their dynamic microenvironment and modify their mechanical properties in response to both chemical and mechanical stimulation. Physical interactions occur between cancer cells and the surrounding matrix including cell movements and cell shape alterations through the process of mechanotransduction. The latter describes the translation of external mechanical cues into intracellular biochemical signaling. Reorganization of both the cytoskeleton and the extracellular matrix (ECM) plays a critical role in these spreading steps. Migrating tumor cells show increased motility in order to cross the tumor microenvironment, migrate through ECM and reach the bloodstream to the metastatic site. There are specific factors affecting these processes, as well as the survival of circulating tumor cells (CTC) in the blood flow until they finally invade the secondary tissue to form metastasis. This review aims to study the mechanisms of metastasis from a biomechanical perspective and investigate cell migration, with a focus on the alterations in the cytoskeleton through this journey and the effect of biologic fluids on metastasis. Understanding of the biophysical mechanisms that promote tumor metastasis may contribute successful therapeutic approaches in the fight against cancer.     

Molecular cytogenetic characterization of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rumex papillaris</Emphasis>, a dioecious plant with an XX/XY<Subscript>1</Subscript>Y<Subscript>2</Subscript> sex chromosome system

Rumex papillaris Boiss, & Reut., an Iberian endemic, belongs to the section Acetosa of the genus Rumex whose main representative is R. acetosa L., a species intensively studied in relation to sex-chromosome evolution. Here, we characterize cytogenetically the chromosomal complement of R. papillaris in an effort to enhance future comparative genomic approaches and to better our understanding of sex chromosome structure in plants. Rumex papillaris, as is common in this group, is a dioecious species characterized by the presence of a multiple sex chromosome system (with females 2n = 12 + XX and males 2n = 12 + XY₁Y₂). Except for the X chromosome both Y chromosomes are the longest in the karyotype and appear heterochromatic due to the accumulation of at least two satellite DNA families, RAE180 and RAYSI. Each chromosome of pair VI has an additional major heterochromatin block at the distal region of the short arm. These supernumerary heterochromatic blocks are occupied by RAE730 satellite DNA family. The Y-related RAE180 family is also present in an additional minor autosomal locus. Our comparative study of the chromosomal organization of the different satellite-DNA sequences in XX/XY and XX/XY₁Y₂ Rumex species demonstrates that of active mechanisms of heterochromatin amplification occurred and were accompanied by chromosomal rearrangements giving rise to the multiple XX/XY₁Y₂ chromosome systems observed in Rumex. Additionally, Y₁ and Y₂ chromosomes have undergone further rearrangements leading to differential patterns of Y-heterochromatin distribution between Rumex species with multiple sex chromosome systems.     

Nitrogen fertilization rate affects feeding, larval performance, and oviposition preference of the beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua, on cotton

Nitrogen (N) is one of the most critical chemical elements for plant and animal growth, exerting a variety of bottom‐up effects. Development and oviposition of the beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), were studied in relation to varying N fertilization levels (42, 112, 196, and 280 p.p.m.) in cotton [Gossypium hirsutum L. (Malvaceae)]. Low N fertilization of cotton plants led to reduced plant biomass and a lower percentage of N in leaf blades and in leaf petioles. Development of S. exigua larvae fed with plants with reduced N applications (42 and 112 p.p.m.) was prolonged relative to treatments receiving higher N fertilization. Almost all larvae reared on artificial diets underwent only five instars before pupation. However, most larvae reared on cotton plants, irrespective of N levels, experienced a supernumerary sixth larval instar. Furthermore, significantly more larvae reared on lower N cotton plants underwent supernumerary development compared to larvae reared on higher N cotton plants. Life‐time feeding damage per larva ranged from 55 to 65 cm², depending on the nutritional quality of the food plant, although the differences were not statistically significant. Larvae distinguished between cotton plants with various nutritional qualities and fed preferentially on higher N plants. Female moth oviposition choice was also affected by host plant nutritional quality: cotton plants with higher N levels were preferentially chosen by S. exigua females for oviposition. The mechanisms of these effects are unclear, but they can have important implications for population dynamics and pest status of beet armyworms in the field.     

Characterization of Botrytis–plant interactions using PathTrack©—an automated system for dynamic analysis of disease development

The measurement of disease development is integral in studies on plant–microbe interactions. To address the need for a dynamic and quantitative disease evaluation, we developed PathTrack^©, and used it to analyse the interaction of plants with Botrytis cinerea. PathTrack^© is composed of an infection chamber, a photography unit and software that produces video files and numerical values of disease progression. We identified a previously unrecognized infection stage and determined numerical parameters of pathogenic development. Using these parameters, we identified differences in disease dynamics between seemingly similar B. cinerea pathogenicity mutants, and revealed new details on plant susceptibility to the fungus. We showed that the difference between the lesion expansion rate on leaves and colony spreading rate on artificial medium reflects the levels of the plant immune system, suggesting that this parameter can be used to quantify plant defence. Our results shed new light and reveal new details of the interaction between the model necrotrophic pathogen B. cinerea and plants. The concept that we present is universal and may be applied to facilitate the study of various types of plant–pathogen association.     

Allele-specific malE mutations that restore interactions between maltose-binding protein and the inner-membrane components of the maltose transport system

Active accumulation of maltose and maltodextrins by Escherichia coli depends on an outer-membrane protein. LamB, a periplasmic maltose-binding protein (MalE, MBP) and three inner-membrane proteins, MalF, MalG and MalK. MalF and MalG are integral transmembrane proteins, while MalK is associated with the inner aspect of the cytoplasmic membrane via an interaction with MalG. Previously we have shown that MBP is essential for movement of maltose across the inner membrane. We have taken advantage of malF and malG mutants in which MBP interacts improperly with the membrane proteins. We describe the properties of malE mutations in which a proper interaction between MBP and defective MalF and MalG proteins has been restored. We found that these malE suppressor mutations are able to restore transport activity in an allele-specific manner. That is, a given malE mutation restores transport activity to different extents in different malF and malG mutants. Since both malF and malG mutations could be suppressed by allele-specific malE suppressors, we propose that, in wild-type bacteria, MBP interacts with sites on both MalF and MalG during active transport. The locations of different malE suppressor mutations indicate specific regions on MBP that are important for interacting with MalF and MalG.