Title: | UV-B impact on aphid performance mediated by plant quality and plant changes induced by aphids |
Address: | "Julius-von-Sachs Institute of Biosciences, University of Wurzburg, Wurzburg, Germany" |
DOI: | 10.1111/j.1438-8677.2009.00257.x |
ISSN/ISBN: | 1438-8677 (Electronic) 1435-8603 (Linking) |
Abstract: | "Plants face various abiotic and biotic environmental factors and therefore need to adjust their phenotypic traits on several levels. UV-B radiation is believed to impact herbivorous insects via host plant changes. Plant responses to abiotic challenges (UV-B radiation) and their interaction with two aphid species were explored in a multifactor approach. Broccoli plants [Brassica oleracea L. convar. botrytis (L.), Brassicaceae] were grown in two differently covered greenhouses, transmitting either 80% (high UV-B) or 4% (low UV-B) of ambient UV-B. Three-week-old plants were infested with either specialist cabbage aphids [Brevicoryne brassicae (L.), Sternorrhyncha, Aphididae] or generalist green peach aphids [Myzus persicae (Sulzer), Sternorrhyncha, Aphididae]. Plants grown under high-UV-B intensities were smaller and had higher flavonoid concentrations. Furthermore, these plants had reduced cuticular wax coverage, whereas amino acid concentrations of the phloem sap were little influenced by different UV-B intensities. Cabbage aphids reproduced less on plants grown under high UV-B than on plants grown under low UV-B, whereas reproduction of green peach aphids in both plant light sources was equally poor. These results are likely related to the different specialisation-dependent sensitivities of the two species. The aphids also affected plant chemistry. High numbers of cabbage aphid progeny on low-UV-B plants led to decreased indolyl glucosinolate concentrations. The induced change in these glucosinolates may depend on an infestation threshold. UV-B radiation considerably impacts plant traits and subsequently affects specialist phloem-feeding aphids, whereas aphid growth forces broccoli to generate specific defence responses" |
Keywords: | Animals Aphids/*physiology Brassicaceae/*chemistry/*radiation effects Flavonoids/chemistry Glucosinolates/chemistry Phloem/chemistry *Ultraviolet Rays Waxes/chemistry; |
Notes: | "MedlineKuhlmann, F Muller, C eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't England 2010/07/20 Plant Biol (Stuttg). 2010 Jul 1; 12(4):676-84. doi: 10.1111/j.1438-8677.2009.00257.x" |