title: Spider mites adaptively learn recognizing mycorrhiza-induced changes in host plant volatiles.
abstract: Symbiotic root micro-organisms such as arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi commonly change morphological, physiological and biochemical traits of their host plants and may thus influence the interaction of aboveground plant parts with herbivores and their natural enemies. While quite a few studies tested the effects of mycorrhiza on life history traits, such as growth, development and reproduction, of aboveground herbivores, information on possible effects of mycorrhiza on host plant choice of herbivores via constitutive and/or induced plant volatiles is lacking. Here we assessed whether symbiosis of the mycorrhizal fungus Glomus mosseae with common bean plants Phaseolus vulgaris influences the response of the two-spotted spider mite Tetranychus urticae to volatiles of plants that were clean or infested with spider mites. Mycorrhiza-naïve and -experienced spider mites, reared on mycorrhizal or non-mycorrhizal bean plants for several days before the experiments, were subjected to Y-tube olfactometer choice tests. Experienced but not naïve spider mites distinguished between constitutive volatiles of clean non-mycorrhizal and mycorrhizal plants, preferring the latter. Neither naïve nor experienced spider mites distinguished between spider mite-induced volatiles of mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal plants. Learning the odor of clean mycorrhizal plants, resulting in a subsequent preference for these odors, is adaptive because mycorrhizal plants are more favorable host plants for fitness of the spider mites than are non-mycorrhizal plants.
authors.affiliation: Group of Arthropod Ecology and Behavior, Division of Plant Protection, Department of Crop Sciences, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Peter Jordanstrasse 82, 1190, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: J David
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Patiño-Ruiz
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Schausberger
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002755:Choice Behavior; D005260:Female; D016014:Linear Models; D038821:Mycorrhizae / Q000502:physiology*; D064367:Olfactometry; D027805:Phaseolus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000469:parasitology*; D013559:Symbiosis / Q000502:physiology; D040102:Tetranychidae / Q000502:physiology*; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds
chemical_list: D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds
references.citation: J Chem Ecol. 2009 Jul;35(7):833-43
references.pmid: 19568812
references.citation: Trends Ecol Evol. 2005 Nov;20(11):617-24
references.pmid: 16701445
references.citation: Appl Environ Microbiol. 1998 Dec;64(12):5004-7
references.pmid: 9835596
references.citation: Mycorrhiza. 2010 Feb;20(2):89-101
references.pmid: 19582485
references.citation: Oecologia. 2011 May;166(1):141-9
references.pmid: 21049299
references.citation: Biochem Syst Ecol. 2000 Aug 1;28(7):601-617
references.pmid: 10854737
references.citation: Curr Opin Plant Biol. 2002 Jun;5(3):237-43
references.pmid: 11960742
references.citation: Oecologia. 1997 Apr;110(2):179-185
references.pmid: 28307422
references.citation: Ecology. 2009 Aug;90(8):2088-97
references.pmid: 19739371
references.citation: Trends Plant Sci. 2005 Jun;10(6):269-74
references.pmid: 15949760
references.citation: Oecologia. 2009 Jan;158(4):663-71
references.pmid: 18949488