Title: | Rapid flower closure of Drosera tokaiensis deters caterpillar herbivory |
Author(s): | Tagawa K; Osaki H; Watanabe M; |
Address: | "Department of Childhood Education, School of Education, Miyazaki International College, 1405 Kano, Kiyotake-cho, Miyazaki 889-1605, Japan. Department of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Oiwake-cho, Kitashirakawa, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan. Department of Biology, Aichi University of Education, 1 Hirosawa, Igaya-cho, Kariya, Aichi 448-8542, Japan" |
ISSN/ISBN: | 1744-957X (Electronic) 1744-9561 (Print) 1744-9561 (Linking) |
Abstract: | "Certain plants exhibit rapid movement in response to mechanical stimulation; however, the ecological functions of this behaviour are largely unknown. Here, we show that the rapid flower closure of Drosera tokaiensis (Droseraceae) in response to mechanical stimulation functions as a physical defence against a specialist herbivore Buckleria paludum (Pterophoridae) caterpillar. Following feeding damage on fruits, flowers, flower stalks and buds by B. paludum, D. tokaiensis closed its flowers nine times faster than during natural circadian closure. The extent of damage to ovules was significantly reduced when the flowers were able to close compared with the condition in which closure was physically inhibited by the application of a resin. Nonetheless, flower closure had no effect on the feeding damage to stamens and styles and promoted further damage to petals. Given that feeding on petals, stamens and styles had no significant effect on the number of mature seeds, rapid flower closure leading to the protection of ovules had an overall positive effect on the reproductive success of D. tokaiensis. Our study showed rapid plant movement as a novel case of induced physical defence against herbivory" |
Keywords: | *Drosera/physiology Herbivory Flowers Plants Seeds Drosera carnivorous plants defence florivory rapid plant movement; |
Notes: | "MedlineTagawa, Kazuki Osaki, Haruka Watanabe, Mikio eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't England 2022/10/27 Biol Lett. 2022 Oct; 18(10):20220373. doi: 10.1098/rsbl.2022.0373. Epub 2022 Oct 26" |