Root-knot nematode infection enhances the performance of a specialist root herbivore via plant-mediated interactions.

ABSTRACT: Herbivores sharing host plants are often temporally and spatially separated, limiting direct interactions between them. Nevertheless, as observed in numerous aboveground study systems, they can reciprocally influence each other via systemically induced plant responses. In contrast, examples of such plant-mediated interactions between belowground herbivores are scarce; however, we postulated that they similarly occur, given the large diversity of root-interacting soil organisms. To test this hypothesis, we analyzed the performance of cabbage root fly (Delia radicum) larvae feeding on the main roots of field mustard (Brassica rapa) plants whose fine roots were infected by the root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita). Simultaneously, we studied the effects of M. incognita on D. radicum-indu

SUBMITTER: Touw AJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12395341 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature