The differential response of cold-experienced Arabidopsis thaliana to larval herbivory benefits an insect generalist, but not a specialist.

ABSTRACT:

Background

In native environments plants frequently experience simultaneous or sequential unfavourable abiotic and biotic stresses. The plant's response to combined stresses is usually not the sum of the individual responses. Here we investigated the impact of cold on plant defense against subsequent herbivory by a generalist and specialist insect.

Results

We determined transcriptional responses of Arabidopsis thaliana to low temperature stress (4 °C) and subsequent larval feeding damage by the lepidopteran herbivores Mamestra brassicae (generalist), Pieris brassicae (specialist) or artificial wounding. Furthermore, we compared the performance of larvae feeding upon cold-experienced or untreated plants. Prior experience of cold strongly affected the plant's transcriptional a

SUBMITTER: Oberlander J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6679549 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature