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Why it matters where on a leaf a folivore feeds.

J S Coleman¹, A S Leonard¹

¹Department of Biology, Syracuse University, 130 College Place, 13244, Syracuse, NY, USA.

|March 18, 2017

Summary

Leaf damage at the base of expanding dicot leaves significantly reduces final leaf area and plant performance more than damage at the tip or on mature leaves. This highlights the importance of leaf developmental stage in plant-herbivore interactions.

Keywords:

Leaf development Nicotiana Leaf ontogeny Optimal defense Plant-insect interactions

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Area of Science:

Plant biology
Ecology
Plant-herbivore interactions

Background:

Dicot leaf tips often mature before the base.
Leaf expansion patterns influence responses to damage.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate how the location and developmental stage of leaf damage affect final leaf area and plant performance.
To determine if damage to expanding leaves has greater consequences than damage to mature leaves.

Main Methods:

Excised circular tissue (3.9 cm²) from the base or tip of expanding or mature tobacco leaves (Nicotiana tabaccum).
Measured final leaf area, visible damage, and fruit production (number and mass).

Main Results:

Damage to the base of expanding leaves caused significantly more visible damage than other treatments.
Removing tissue from the base of expanding leaves reduced final leaf area by ~40% and fruit production by ~35%.
Damage location and leaf developmental stage critically impact herbivory effects.

Conclusions:

The location of herbivory on a leaf, relative to its developmental stage, has significant consequences for leaf area development and overall plant performance.
Understanding leaf ontogeny is crucial for accurately assessing herbivory impact and plant responses in ecological studies.