Effects of above- and belowground herbivory of specialists and generalists on the growth and defensive chemicals of intr
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Effects of above- and belowground herbivory of specialists and generalists on the growth and defensive chemicals of introduced and native Chinese tallow seedlings Xiaoqiong Li
&
Xu Gao & Evan Siemann & Si Shen & Wenfeng Guo
Received: 9 February 2020 / Accepted: 3 August 2020 # Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
Abstract Background and aims Spatially separated aboveground (AG) and belowground (BG) herbivores can affect each other and alter plant growth and defense, although the outcome of AG-BG herbivore interactions may vary with herbivore type (specialists versus generalists). Here, we explored how AG and BG specialists and generalists interacted on different plant genotypes. Methods We subjected native and introduced seedlings of T. sebifera to herbivory by a specialist/generalist caterpillar, and BG herbivory by a root-knot nematode. We compared interactions between the herbivores and Responsible Editor: Hans Lambers. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-020-04666-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users. X. Li : X. Gao : S. Shen Guangxi Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Conservation, College of Forestry, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004 Guangxi, China X. Li Guangxi Youyiguan Forest Ecosystem Research Station, Pingxiang 532600 Guangxi, China E. Siemann Biosciences Department, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA W. Guo (*) Guangxi Crop Genetic Improvement and Biotechnology Lab, Guangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanning 530007 Guangxi, China e-mail: [email protected]
how they influenced the growth and defensive chemicals in T. sebifera. Results A field survey showed that AG insect exclusion greatly increased the root knot number of nematodes. However, a common-garden experiment showed that the AG specialist only facilitated nematodes on native seedlings, while the AG generalist only facilitated nematodes on introduced plants. The larval biomass of the specialist caterpillar was lower but that of the generalist caterpillar was higher on nematode-infested plants than on uninfested plants. Consistently, laboratory bioassays showed that consumption by the generalist caterpillar increased on nematode-infested plants, but consumption by the specialist caterpillar decreased. The above AGBG herbivore interactions could be partially explained by changes in tannins and flavonoids. The changes in biomass, tannins and flavonoids after bouts of AG or BG herbivory were dependent on the type of AG caterpillars. Conclusion Our results demonstrate that herbivore type is important in shaping AG-BG interactions, and highlight the importance of measuring AG and BG linkages to fully understand how plants respond to different groups of herbivores. Keywords Aboveground and belowground interactions . Biomass . Defense . Flavonoids . Nematode . Tannins Abbreviations AG aboveground BG belowground
Plant Soil
No Nema
no nematode nematode inoculation
Introduction Plants are often simultaneously attac
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