Premium
Response of quaking aspen genotypes to enriched CO 2 : foliar chemistry and tussock moth performance
Author(s) -
Lindroth Richard L.,
Wood Sarah A.,
Kopper Brian J.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
agricultural and forest entomology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.755
H-Index - 55
eISSN - 1461-9563
pISSN - 1461-9555
DOI - 10.1046/j.1461-9563.2002.00156.x
Subject(s) - biology , tussock , intraspecific competition , botany , horticulture , ecology
1 Genetic variation in the phytochemical responses of plants to CO 2 enrichment is likely to alter trophic dynamics, and to shift intraspecific selection pressures on plant populations. We evaluated the independent and interactive effects of atmospheric CO 2 and quaking aspen ( Populus tremuloides Michx.) genotype on chemical composition of foliage and performance of the whitemarked tussock moth ( Orgyia leucostigma J. E. Sm.). 2 This research was conducted at the Aspen FACE (Free Air CO 2 Enrichment) site in northern Wisconsin, U.S.A. Leaf samples were collected periodically from each of three genetically variable aspen genotypes growing under ambient and elevated CO 2 , and analysed for levels of primary and secondary metabolites. Tussock moth larvae were reared in situ on experimental trees, and development times and pupal masses were recorded. 3 Foliar chemical composition varied among aspen genotypes and in response to CO 2 enrichment. However, chemical responses of trees to elevated CO 2 were generally consistent across genotypes. 4 Larval development times varied among host genotypes and increased slightly for insects on high‐CO 2 plants. Enriched CO 2 tended to reduce insect pupal masses, particularly for females on one of the three aspen genotypes. 5 CO 2 × genotype interactions observed for plant chemistry and insect performance in this study with a small number of genotypes are probably too few, and too weak, to shift selection pressures in aspen populations. These results differ, however, from earlier work in which more substantial CO 2 × genotype interactions were observed for plant chemistry.