Role of bilateral chemosensory input in food discrimination by Manduca sexta larvae

The function of bilateral chemosensory input in food discrimination was examined using larvae of the tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta (Johan.) (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae), in 2-choice preference tests. Larvae having three different complements of chemosensory organs remaining after microsurgery were tested: unoperated, unilaterally-ablated, and bilaterally-ablated. Discrimination between Solanum pseudocapsicum (L.) and Pelargonium hortorum (Bailey) was reduced after unilateral removal of chemosensory organs. A similar effect was found in tests offering larvae a choice between one plant species or an ethanolic extract of S. pseudocapsicum and wetted filter paper, indicating an impaired food detection. These results demonstrate that both sets of chemosensory organs are required for normal feeding decisions about these plants.Six additional plant species were each tested against wetted filter paper. The function of bilateral chemosensory input in food discrimination varies with the plant species tested. Bilateral chemosensory input is required for discrimination of Vigna sinensis (Savi) and Raphanus sativus (L.), but not for that of Lycopersicon esculentum (Mill.), Datura innoxia (L.), Brassica napus (L.), and Canna generalis (Bailey). Discrimination of V. sinensis, S. pseudocapsicum, and P. hortorum by unoperated larvae is twice as strong as that by unilaterally-ablated larvae, suggesting algebraic addition of unilateral sensory inputs. For R. sativus unilateral input does not mediate discrimination, but bilateral input does, indicating sensory processing which may be more than additive. These results show that information mediated by bilateral chemosensory organs of M. sexta is not redundant in mediating feeding decisions, but provide the necessary sensory input for normal discrimination. This suggests that, for some plant species, feeding decisions are based on both qualitative and quantitative aspects of chemosensory input.No difference in preferences between left-sided and right-sided operated larvae were observed which suggests functional duplication of each set of unilateral chemosensory organs. Possible neural mechanisms underlying feeding decisions mediated by bilateral versus unilateral chemosensory inputs are discussed.