Phenotypic plasticity to light competition and herbivory in Chenopodium album (Chenopodiaceae)

Competition and herbivory are ubiquitous environmental challenges that affect most plants. We examined the influence of phenotypic responses to either competition or herbivory on the subsequent response of the plants to the other factor. The stem-elongation response of Chenopodium album to light competition attenuated its resistance to caterpillar herbivory in terms of herbivore mortality, but not in terms of growth of the survivors. Plant responses to herbivory did not affect subsequent responses to light competition. Thus, plants were largely able to express phenotypic plasticity (a proportional increase in the phenotype) following previous exposure to a different environmental factor. Although plants were able to express sequential plasticity, the final phenotype expressed was limited by exposure to previous environmental factors: induced resistance reduced plant height and stem elongation made plants more palatable to herbivores. Phenotypic plasticity in response to competition and herbivory may thus limit the subsequent expression of adaptive phenotypes.