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Oecologia

Title:		Allocating nitrogen away from a herbivore: a novel compensatory response to root herbivory
Author(s):		Newingham BA; Callaway RM; Bassirirad H;
Address:		"Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, USA. newingha@unlv.nevada.edu"
Journal Title:		Oecologia
Year:		2007
Volume:		20070707
Issue:		4
Page Number:		913 - 920
DOI:		10.1007/s00442-007-0791-2
ISSN/ISBN:		0029-8549 (Print) 0029-8549 (Linking)
Abstract:		"Centaurea maculosa, an invasive North American plant species, shows a high degree of tolerance to the root-boring biocontrol herbivore, Agapeta zoegana. For example, infested individuals of C. maculosa often exhibit more rigorous growth and reproduction compared with their non-infested counterparts. Compensatory responses to aboveground herbivores often involve increases in leaf area and/or photosynthetic capacity, but considerably less is known about root system compensatory responses to belowground herbivory. We used a (15)N labeling approach to evaluate whether compensatory adjustments in N acquisition via changes in root morphology and/or physiological uptake capacity could explain the ability of C. maculosa to tolerate root herbivory. Root herbivory reduced whole plant N uptake by more than 30% and root uptake capacity by about 50%. Despite a marked reduction in N procurement, herbivory did not affect total biomass or shoot N status. Infested plants maintained shoot N status by shifting more of the acquired N from the root to the shoot. To our knowledge, shifting N allocation away from a root herbivore has not been reported and provides a plausible mechanism for the host plant to overcome an otherwise devastating effect of a root herbivore-induced N deficit"
Keywords:		"Adaptation, Physiological Animals Asteraceae/growth & development/*metabolism Moths/*physiology Nitrogen/*metabolism Pest Control, Biological Plant Roots/growth & development/*metabolism Soil/analysis;"
Notes:		"MedlineNewingham, Beth A Callaway, Ragan M Bassirirad, Hormoz eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. Germany 2007/07/10 Oecologia. 2007 Oct; 153(4):913-20. doi: 10.1007/s00442-007-0791-2. Epub 2007 Jul 7"