Resisting the onset of herbivore attack: plants perceive and respond to insect eggs.
Plants can respond to attack by herbivorous insects very soon after herbivores start producing a new generation by depositing eggs onto their leaves. Egg-induced plant responses may result in killing the attacker in its egg stage. However, if the eggs do survive, they can also prime feeding-induced plant defenses against the larvae hatching from eggs. In this paper we focus first on egg-induced plant responses that resemble hypersensitive responses (HR) to phytopathogens and lead to egg desiccation or detachment from plants. We then summarize the current knowledge about egg-mediated effects on feeding-induced plant defenses against larvae. Finally, we discuss the insect species specificity of plant responses to eggs and the variability of insect susceptibility to these responses.
Freie Universität Berlin, Institute of Biology, Haderslebener Str. 9, 12163 Berlin, Germany. Electronic address: monika.hilker@fu-berlin.de.
Monika
M
Hilker
Wageningen University, Biosystematics Group, Droevendaalsesteeg 1, 6700 AP Wageningen, The Netherlands.
Nina E
NE
Fatouros
D000818:Animals; D060434:Herbivory / Q000502:physiology*; D007313:Insecta / Q000472:pathogenicity; D007814:Larva / Q000472:pathogenicity; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000469:parasitology; D010944:Plants / Q000469:parasitology*