Dataset Information

Environmentally triggered variability in the genetic variance-covariance of herbivory resistance of an exotic plant Solidago altissima.

ABSTRACT: The variability in the genetic variance-covariance (G-matrix) in plant resistance and its role in the evolution of invasive plants have been long overlooked. We conducted an additional analysis of the data of a reciprocal transplant experiment with tall goldenrod, Solidago altissima, in multiple garden sites within its native range (USA) and introduced range (Japan). We explored the differences in G-matrix of resistance to two types of foliar herbivores: (a) a lace bug that is native to the USA and recently introduced to Japan, (b) and other herbivorous insects in response to plant origins and environments. A negative genetic covariance was found between plant resistances to lace bugs and other herbivorous insects, in all combinations of garden locations and plant origins except for US plants planted in US gardens. The G-matrix of the resistance indices did not differ between US and Japanese plants either in US or Japanese gardens, while it differed between US and Japanese gardens in both US and Japanese plants. Our results suggested that the G-matrix of the plant resistance may have changed in response to novel environmental differences including herbivore communities and/or other biotic and abiotic factors in the introduced range. This may have revealed a hidden trade-off between resistances, masked by the environmental factors in the origin range. These results suggest that the stability of the genetic covariance during invasion, and the environmentally triggered variability in the G-matrices of plant resistance may help to protect the plant against multiple herbivore species without changing its genetic architecture and that this may lead to a rapid adaptation of resistance in exotic plants. Local environments of the plant also have a critical effect on plant resistance and should be considered in order to understand trait evolution in exotic plants.

SUBMITTER: Sakata Y

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7083677 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Environmentally triggered variability in the genetic variance-covariance of herbivory resistance of an exotic plant <i>Solidago altissima</i>.

Sakata Yuzu Y Utsumi Shunsuke S Craig Timothy P TP Itami Joanne K JK Ikemoto Mito M Ohgushi Takayuki T

Ecology and evolution 20200302 6

The variability in the genetic variance-covariance (G-matrix) in plant resistance and its role in the evolution of invasive plants have been long overlooked. We conducted an additional analysis of the data of a reciprocal transplant experiment with tall goldenrod, <i>Solidago altissima</i>, in multiple garden sites within its native range (USA) and introduced range (Japan). We explored the differences in G-matrix of resistance to two types of foliar herbivores: (a) a lace bug that is native to t ...[more]

PMID: 32211180

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Project description:BackgroundThe induction of plant defenses in response to herbivory is well documented. In addition, many plants prime their anti-herbivore defenses following exposure to environmental cues associated with increased risk of subsequent attack, including induced volatile emissions from herbivore-damaged plant tissues. Recently, we showed in both field and laboratory settings that tall goldenrod plants (Solidago altissima) exposed to the putative sex attractant of a specialist gall-inducing fly (Eurosta solidaginis) experienced less herbivory than unexposed plants. Furthermore, we observed stronger induction of the defense phytohormone jasmonic acid in exposed plants compared to controls. These findings document a novel class of plant-insect interactions mediated by the direct perception, by plants, of insect-derived olfactory cues. However, our previous study did not exclude the possibility that the fly emission (or its residue) might also deter insect feeding via direct effects on the herbivores.ResultsHere we show that the E. solidaginis emission does not (directly) deter herbivore feeding on Cucurbita pepo or Symphyotrichum lateriflorum plants--which have no co-evolutionary relationship with E. solidaginis and thus are not expected to exhibit priming responses to the fly emission. We also document stronger induction of herbivore-induced plant volatiles (HIPV) in S. altissima plants given previous exposure to the fly emission relative to unexposed controls. No similar effect was observed in maize plants (Zea mays), which have no co-evolutionary relationship with E. solidaginis.ConclusionsTogether with our previous findings, these results provide compelling evidence that reduced herbivory on S. altissima plants exposed to the emission of male E. solidaginis reflects an evolved plant response to olfactory cues associated with its specialist herbivore and does not involve direct effects of the fly emission on herbivore feeding behavior. We further discuss mechanisms by which the priming of HIPV responses documented here might contribute to enhanced S. altissima defense against galling.

Project description:Insect herbivores can shift the composition of a plant community, but the mechanism underlying such shifts remains largely unexplored. A possibility is that insects alter the competitive symmetry between plant species. The effect of herbivory on competition likely depends on whether the plants are subjected to aboveground or belowground herbivory or both, and also depends on soil nitrogen levels. It is unclear how these biotic and abiotic factors interactively affect competition. In a greenhouse experiment, we measured competition between two coexisting grass species that respond differently to nitrogen deposition: Dactylis glomerata L., which is competitively favoured by nitrogen addition, and Festuca rubra L., which is competitively favoured on nitrogen-poor soils. We predicted: (1) that aboveground herbivory would reduce competitive asymmetry at high soil nitrogen by reducing the competitive advantage of D. glomerata; and (2), that belowground herbivory would relax competition at low soil nitrogen, by reducing the competitive advantage of F. rubra. Aboveground herbivory caused a 46% decrease in the competitive ability of F. rubra, and a 23% increase in that of D. glomerata, thus increasing competitive asymmetry, independently of soil nitrogen level. Belowground herbivory did not affect competitive symmetry, but the combined influence of above- and belowground herbivory was weaker than predicted from their individual effects. Belowground herbivory thus mitigated the increased competitive asymmetry caused by aboveground herbivory. D. glomerata remained competitively dominant after the cessation of aboveground herbivory, showing that the influence of herbivory continued beyond the feeding period. We showed that insect herbivory can strongly influence plant competitive interactions. In our experimental plant community, aboveground insect herbivory increased the risk of competitive exclusion of F. rubra. Belowground herbivory appeared to mitigate the influence of aboveground herbivory, and this mechanism may play a role for plant species coexistence.

Dataset Information

Environmentally triggered variability in the genetic variance-covariance of herbivory resistance of an exotic plant Solidago altissima.

Publications

Environmentally triggered variability in the genetic variance-covariance of herbivory resistance of an exotic plant <i>Solidago altissima</i>.

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