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A herbivore that manipulates plant defence
Author(s) -
Sarmento Renato Almeida,
Lemos Felipe,
Bleeker Petra M.,
Schuurink Robert C.,
Pallini Angelo,
Oliveira Maria Goreti Almeida,
Lima Eraldo R.,
Kant Merijn,
Sabelis Maurice W.,
Janssen Arne
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
ecology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.852
H-Index - 265
eISSN - 1461-0248
pISSN - 1461-023X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1461-0248.2010.01575.x
Subject(s) - herbivore , biology , jasmonic acid , salicylic acid , spider mite , plant defense against herbivory , mite , resistance (ecology) , ecology , botany , tetranychus urticae , predation , defence mechanisms , biochemistry , genetics , gene
Ecology Letters (2011) 14: 229–236 Abstract Phytopathogens and herbivores induce plant defences. Whereas there is evidence that some pathogens suppress these defences by interfering with signalling pathways involved in the defence, such evidence is scarce for herbivores. We found that the invasive spider mite Tetranychus evansi suppresses the induction of the salicylic acid and jasmonic acid signalling routes involved in induced plant defences in tomato. This was reflected in the levels of inducible defence compounds, such as proteinase inhibitors, which in mite‐infested plants were reduced to even lower levels than the constitutive levels in herbivore‐free plants. Additionally, the spider mite suppressed the release of inducible volatiles, which are implicated in plant defence. Consequently, the mites performed much better on previously attacked plants than on non‐attacked plants. These findings provide a new perspective on plant–herbivore interactions, plant protection and plant resistance to invasive species.