How Non-Host Herbivores Affect Plant Signals to Parasitoids
Author Information
Author(s): Matthias Erb, Nicolas Foresti, Ted C. J. Turlings
Primary Institution: University of Neuchâtel
Hypothesis
Euscelidius variegatus affects the plant's response to Spodoptera littoralis, thereby interfering with the ability of Cotesia marginiventris to locate its host using herbivore-induced plant volatiles.
Conclusion
Plant defense responses to herbivory can be more robust than generally assumed, and volatiles convey specific information about the type of herbivore attacking a plant, even in complex situations with multiple herbivores.
Supporting Evidence
- Cotesia marginiventris preferred volatiles from plants infested with its host S. littoralis.
- E. variegatus did not alter the attractiveness of S. littoralis infested plants.
- Parasitoids showed a significant preference for host-infested plants over non-host infested plants.
Takeaway
Plants can still send out signals to attract help even when they are being eaten by different bugs at the same time.
Methodology
The study involved olfactometer bioassays to test parasitoid attraction to volatile emissions from maize plants infested with different herbivores.
Potential Biases
Potential biases may arise from the controlled laboratory conditions not fully replicating natural environments.
Limitations
The study primarily focused on specific herbivore interactions and may not generalize to all plant-herbivore-parasitoid systems.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.05
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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