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ARTICLE

Induced responses in the subtropical evergreen, broad-leaf tree Schima superba: Effects of simulated herbivory on leaf quality and subsequent insect attack during leaf expansion

Liu ZG^1,2, YL Cai^1,2, K Li^2,3

1 School of Resources and Environmental Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China.
2 Shanghai Key Laboratory for Ecology of Urbanization Process and Eco-Restoration, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China.
3 School of Life Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China.

* Corresponding Author:Address Correspondence to: Li Kai, School of Life Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, P. R. China, Tel: 86-21-6223-8101. e-mail:

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany 2010, 79(all), 81-86. https://doi.org/10.32604/phyton.2010.79.081

Abstract

Induced responses to herbivory are physical, nutritional, and allelochemical traits that change in plants following disturbances, and reduce the performance and/or preference of leaf tissues on herbivores. This study gave evidence to the induced defense theory through the simulated herbivory in Schima superba, one of common dominant trees in subtropical evergreen, broadleaf forests in southern China. Results showed that leaves damaged at the beginning of leaf expansion would develop into having a larger area, higher toughness and higher tannin concentrations, but a lower water content compared with control leaves. As a result, they experienced lower herbivory rates than controls. These results indicate that simulated herbivory on leaves of S. superba (1) reduced leaf nutrition, and (2) increased the leaf physical and biochemical defense as a result of a localized induction to herbivory, therefore altering insect herbivore attacks.

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