Larval performance of the mustard leaf beetle (Phaedon cochleariae, Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae) on white mustard (Sinapis alba) and watercress (Nasturtium officinale) leaves in dependence of plant exposure to ultraviolet radiation.
Short-term exposure to ambient or attenuated ultraviolet (UV) radiation resulted in shifts in plant metabolite concentrations of the Brassicaceae Sinapis alba and Nasturtium officinale. Leaf quality also varied between plant species and within species due to age. Larvae of the oligophagous leaf beetle Phaedon cochleariae were raised on these different host leaves, in order to investigate the effects of variable plant chemistry on this herbivore. The performance of P. cochleariae was influenced by chemical differences between and within plant species but it responded with high plasticity to plants stressed by ultraviolet radiation. Body mass increase and developmental times of larvae were exclusively affected by plant species and leaf-age. However, developmental differences were fully compensated in the pupal stage. We suggest that the plasticity of herbivores may depend on the degree of specialisation, and insect performance may not necessarily be altered by stress-induced host plants.
Reifenrath
Kerstin
K
Universität Würzburg, Julius-von-Sachs Institut für Biowissenschaften, Julius-von-Sachs Platz 3, D-97082 Würzburg, Germany. reifenrath@biozentrum.uni-wuerzburg.de
Müller
Caroline
C
D000818:Animals; D001681:Biological Assay / Q000379:methods; D001517:Coleoptera / Q000502:physiology*; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D007814:Larva / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D031223:Nasturtium / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D011679:Pupa; D031226:Sinapis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D013997:Time Factors; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays / Q000009:adverse effects*