Skip to main content
ARS Home » Southeast Area » Gainesville, Florida » Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology » Insect Behavior and Biocontrol Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #220327
Title: Does the weedy nightshade Solanum Viarum initiate induced plant defenses in response to herbivory by generalist and specialist insects?

Author
item HIX, R. - FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY
item KAIRO, M.T.K. - FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY
item Reitz, Stuart

Submitted to: Entomological Society of America Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/1/2007
Publication Date: 12/12/2007
Citation: Hix, R., Kairo, M., Reitz, S.R. 2007. Does the weedy nightshade Solanum Viarum initiate induced plant defenses in response to herbivory by generalist and specialist insects?. Entomological Society of America Proceedings.

Interpretive Summary: Interspecific interactions can affect the population dynamics of important insect pests. Scientists with the Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology and the Florida A&M Center for Biological Control explored plant-mediated interspecific and intraspecific interactions between the beet armyworm (Spodoptera exigua) (BAW), the tobacco hornworm (Manducca sexta) (THW), and the western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis) three important nightshade herbivores. This thrips is a major vector of the tomato spotted wilt virus and TSA is a potential reservoir. These studies were conducted in the context of the invasive noxious weed tropical soda apple (TSA). The consequences of beet armyworm-induced resistance for BAW, THW and thrips performance were studied in the greenhouse and lab cages. TSA plants were exposed to four densities of BAW (none, low, moderate, and high). The preference, performance, and survivorship of thrips were then measured on the four categories of induced plants in cage and greenhouse settings. The results of these studies will be important in determining how different insect pests affect one another.

Technical Abstract: Plant-mediated competition among insect herbivores occurs when one species induces changes in plant biochemistry that render plants resistant to attack by the same or other species. We explored plant-mediated interspecific and intraspecific interactions between the beet armyworm (Spodoptera exigua) (BAW), the tobacco hornworm (Manducca sexta) (THW), and the western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis) three important nightshade herbivores. This thrips is a major vector of the tomato spotted wilt virus and TSA is a potential reservoir. These studies were conducted in the context of the invasive noxious weed tropical soda apple (TSA). The consequences of beet armyworm-induced resistance for BAW, THW and thrips performance were studied in the greenhouse and lab cages. TSA plants were exposed to four densities of BAW (none, low, moderate, and high). The preference, performance, and survivorship of thrips were then measured on the four categories of induced plants in cage and greenhouse settings.