Leaf surface lipophilic compounds as one of the factors of silver birch chemical defense against larvae of gypsy moth.

ABSTRACT: Plant chemical defense against herbivores is a complex process which involves a number of secondary compounds. It is known that the concentration of leaf surface lipophilic compounds (SLCs), particularly those of flavonoid aglycones are increased with the defoliation treatment of silver birch Betula pendula. In this study we investigated how the alteration of SLCs concentration in the food affects the fitness and innate immunity of the gypsy moth Lymantria dispar. We found that a low SLCs concentrations in consumed leaves led to a rapid larval development and increased females' pupae weight (= fecundity) compared to larvae fed with leaves with high SLCs content. Inversely, increasing the compounds concentration in an artificial diet produced the reverse effects: decreases in both larval we

SUBMITTER: Martemyanov VV 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4376524 | biostudies-literature | 2015

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature