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Leaf surface lipophilic compounds as one of the factors of silver birch chemical defense against larvae of gypsy moth.

ABSTRACT: Plant chemical defense against herbivores is a complex process which involves a number of secondary compounds. It is known that the concentration of leaf surface lipophilic compounds (SLCs), particularly those of flavonoid aglycones are increased with the defoliation treatment of silver birch Betula pendula. In this study we investigated how the alteration of SLCs concentration in the food affects the fitness and innate immunity of the gypsy moth Lymantria dispar. We found that a low SLCs concentrations in consumed leaves led to a rapid larval development and increased females' pupae weight (= fecundity) compared to larvae fed with leaves with high SLCs content. Inversely, increasing the compounds concentration in an artificial diet produced the reverse effects: decreases in both larval weight and larval survival. Low SLCs concentrations in tree leaves differently affected larval innate immunity parameters. For both sexes, total hemocytes count in the hemolymph increased, while the activity of plasma phenoloxidase decreased when larvae consume leaves with reduced content of SLCs. Our results clearly demonstrate that the concentration of SLCs in silver birch leaves affects not only gypsy moth fitness but also their innate immune status which might alter the potential resistance of insects against infections and/or parasitoids.

SUBMITTER: Martemyanov VV

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4376524 | biostudies-literature | 2015

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Leaf surface lipophilic compounds as one of the factors of silver birch chemical defense against larvae of gypsy moth.

Martemyanov Vyacheslav V VV Pavlushin Sergey V SV Dubovskiy Ivan M IM Belousova Irina A IA Yushkova Yuliya V YV Morosov Sergey V SV Chernyak Elena I EI Glupov Victor V VV

PloS one 20150327 3

Plant chemical defense against herbivores is a complex process which involves a number of secondary compounds. It is known that the concentration of leaf surface lipophilic compounds (SLCs), particularly those of flavonoid aglycones are increased with the defoliation treatment of silver birch Betula pendula. In this study we investigated how the alteration of SLCs concentration in the food affects the fitness and innate immunity of the gypsy moth Lymantria dispar. We found that a low SLCs concen ...[more]

PMID: 25816371

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Project description:The mountain birch [Betula pubescens var. pumila (L.)] forest in the Subarctic is periodically exposed to insect outbreaks, which are expected to intensify due to climate change. To mitigate abiotic and biotic stresses, plants have evolved chemical defenses, including volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and non-volatile specialized compounds (NVSCs). Constitutive and induced production of these compounds, however, are poorly studied in Subarctic populations of mountain birch. Here, we assessed the joint effects of insect herbivory, elevation and season on foliar VOC emissions and NVSC contents of mountain birch. The VOCs were sampled in situ by an enclosure technique and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. NVSCs were analyzed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry using an untargeted approach. At low elevation, experimental herbivory by winter moth larvae (Operophtera brumata) increased emissions of monoterpenes and homoterpenes over the 3-week feeding period, and sesquiterpenes and green leaf volatiles at the end of the feeding period. At high elevation, however, herbivory augmented only homoterpene emissions. The more pronounced herbivory effects at low elevation were likely due to higher herbivory intensity. Of the individual compounds, linalool, ocimene, 4,8-dimethylnona-1,3,7-triene, 2-methyl butanenitrile and benzyl nitrile were among the most responsive compounds in herbivory treatments. Herbivory also altered foliar NVSC profiles at both low and high elevations, with the most responsive compounds likely belonging to fatty acyl glycosides and terpene glycosides. Additionally, VOC emissions from non-infested branches were higher at high than low elevation, particularly during the early season, which was mainly driven by phenological differences. The VOC emissions varied substantially over the season, largely reflecting the seasonal variations in temperature and light levels. Our results suggest that if insect herbivory pressure continues to rise in the mountain birch forest with ongoing climate change, it will significantly increase VOC emissions with important consequences for local trophic interactions and climate.

Dataset Information

Leaf surface lipophilic compounds as one of the factors of silver birch chemical defense against larvae of gypsy moth.

Publications

Leaf surface lipophilic compounds as one of the factors of silver birch chemical defense against larvae of gypsy moth.

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