| Title: | Birch (Betula spp.) leaves adsorb and re-release volatiles specific to neighbouring plants--a mechanism for associational herbivore resistance? |
| Author(s): | Himanen SJ; Blande JD; Klemola T; Pulkkinen J; Heijari J; Holopainen JK; |
| Address: | "Department of Environmental Science, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio Campus, PO Box 1627, FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland. Sari.Himanen@mtt.fi" |
| DOI: | 10.1111/j.1469-8137.2010.03220.x |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 1469-8137 (Electronic) 0028-646X (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "Plant-emitted semi-volatile compounds have low vaporization rates at 20-25 degrees C and may therefore persist on surfaces such as plant foliage. The passive adsorption of arthropod-repellent semi-volatiles to neighbouring foliage could convey associational resistance, whereby a plant's neighbours reduce damage caused by herbivores. We found that birch (Betula spp.) leaves adsorb and re-release the specific arthropod-repelling C(15) semi-volatiles ledene, ledol and palustrol produced by Rhododendron tomentosum when grown in mixed association in a field setup. In a natural habitat, a higher concentration of ledene was released from birches neighbouring R. tomentosum than from birches situated > 5 m from R. tomentosum. Emission of alpha-humulene, a sesquiterpene synthesized by both Betula pendula and R. tomentosum, was also increased in R. tomentosum-neighbouring B. pendula. In assessments for associational resistance, we found that the polyphagous green leaf weevils (Polydrusus flavipes) and autumnal moth (Epirrita autumnata) larvae both preferred B. pendula to R. tomentosum. P. flavipes also preferred birch leaves not exposed to R. tomentosum to leaves from mixed associations. In the field, a reduction in Euceraphis betulae aphid density occurred in mixed associations. Our results suggest that plant/tree species may be protected by semi-volatile compounds emitted by a more herbivore-resistant heterospecific neighbour" |
| Keywords: | "Adsorption Animals Aphids/physiology Betula/*metabolism Biological Assay Feeding Behavior/*physiology *Models, Biological Plant Leaves/*metabolism Species Specificity Volatile Organic Compounds/*metabolism Volatilization Weevils/physiology;" |
| Notes: | "MedlineHimanen, Sari J Blande, James D Klemola, Tero Pulkkinen, Juha Heijari, Juha Holopainen, Jarmo K eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't England 2010/03/20 New Phytol. 2010 May; 186(3):722-32. doi: 10.1111/j.1469-8137.2010.03220.x. Epub 2010 Mar 10" |
