Premium
Cadmium hyperaccumulation protects Thlaspi caerulescens from leaf feeding damage by thrips ( Frankliniella occidentalis )
Author(s) -
Jiang R. F.,
Ma D. Y.,
Zhao F. J.,
McGrath S. P.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
new phytologist
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.742
H-Index - 244
eISSN - 1469-8137
pISSN - 0028-646X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-8137.2005.01452.x
Subject(s) - biology , cadmium , thrips , shoot , ecotype , botany , western flower thrips , hyperaccumulator , horticulture , thripidae , phytoremediation , ecology , chemistry , organic chemistry , contamination
Summary• Metal hyperaccumulation has been proposed as a plant defensive strategy. Here, we investigated whether cadmium (Cd) hyperaccumulation protected Thlaspi caerulescens from leaf feeding damage by thrips ( Frankliniella occidentalis ). • Two ecotypes differing in Cd accumulation, Ganges (high) and Prayon (low), were grown in compost amended with 0–1000 mg Cd kg −1 in two experiments under glasshouse conditions. F 2 and F 3 plants from the Prayon × Ganges crosses were grown with 5 mg Cd kg −1 . Plants were naturally colonized by thrips and the leaf feeding damage index (LFDI) was assessed. • The LFDI decreased significantly with increasing Cd in both ecotypes, and correlated with shoot Cd concentration in a log‐linear fashion. Prayon was more attractive to thrips than Ganges, but the ecotypic difference in the LFDI was largely accounted for by the shoot Cd concentration. In the F 2 and F 3 plants, the LFDI correlated significantly and negatively with shoot Cd, but not with shoot zinc (Zn) or sulphur (S) concentrations. • We conclude that Cd hyperaccumulation deters thrips from feeding on T. caerulescens leaves, which may offer an adaptive benefit to the plant.