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Published on: May 15, 2019
Induced defences in plants reduce herbivory by increasing cannibalism
John Orrock1, Brian Connolly2, Anthony Kitchen2
1Department of Integrative Biology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, 53704, USA. jorrock@wisc.edu.
Abstract:
Plants are attacked by myriad herbivores, and many plants exhibit anti-herbivore defences. We tested the hypothesis that induced defences benefit tomato plants by encouraging insects to eat other members of their species. We found that defences that promote cannibalism benefit tomatoes in two ways: cannibalism directly reduces herbivore abundance, and cannibals eat significantly less plant material. This previously unknown means of defence may alter plant-herbivore dynamics, plant evolution and pathogen transmission.
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