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Induced responses to herbivory and increased plant performance
1Department of Entomology, and Center for Population Biology, One Shields Avenue, University of California at Davis, Davis, CA 95616-8584, USA.
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|March 4, 1998
Summary
Plant defense mechanisms were activated early in the season, significantly reducing herbivore damage and increasing seed mass. This study highlights the benefits of induced plant resistance for herbivory and overall plant fitness.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Plant Science
- Evolutionary Biology
Background:
- Plants possess defense mechanisms against herbivores.
- Induced responses can alter plant-herbivore interactions.
- Understanding these responses is crucial for plant fitness.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the consequences of induced plant resistance on subsequent herbivory.
- To evaluate the impact of induced responses on plant fitness.
Main Methods:
- Field experiment to induce plant resistance early in the season.
- Comparison of herbivory levels (chewing herbivores and aphids) between induced and control plants.
- Measurement of seed mass as an indicator of plant fitness.
Main Results:
- Induced plants experienced halved herbivory by chewing insects.
- Abundance of phloem-feeding aphids was reduced in induced plants.
- Seed mass, a proxy for plant fitness, increased by over 60% in induced plants.
Conclusions:
- Early-season induction of plant resistance effectively reduces herbivory.
- Induced resistance positively impacts plant fitness, indicated by enhanced seed mass.
- This strategy offers a significant advantage for plant survival and reproduction.