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Research article2004Peer reviewed

Leaf beetle grazing does not induce willow trichome defence in the coppicing willow Salix viminalis

Dalin P, Bjorkman C, Eklund K

Abstract

1 Willows are frequently attacked and defoliated by adult leaf beetles (Phratora vulgatissima L.) early in the season and the plants are then attacked again when new larvae emerge. The native willow Salix cinerea has previously been shown to respond to adult grazing by producing new leaves with an increased trichome density. Subsequent larval feeding was reduced on new leaves. This type of induced plant response may reduce insect damage and could potentially be utilized for plant protection in agricultural systems. 2 Here, we investigated if the willow species most commonly used for biomass production in short rotation coppice, Salix viminalis, also responds to adult beetle grazing by increasing trichome density. Larval performance and feeding behaviour on plants previously exposed to adult beetles was compared with that on undefoliated control plants in a greenhouse. 3 We found an overall decrease in trichome density within all the plants (i.e. trichome density was lower on new leaves compared to that for older basal leaves on S. viminalis). However, leaves of beetle defoliated plants had a higher trichome density compared to control plants. Larval growth and feeding was not affected by this difference between treatments. Larvae appeared to remove trichomes when feeding on S. viminalis, a behaviour that might explain the lack of difference between treatments

Published in

Agricultural and Forest Entomology
2004, Volume: 6, number: 2, pages: 105-109
Publisher: BLACKWELL PUBL LTD

      SLU Authors

    • Eklund, Karin

      • Department of Entomology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

        • Dalin, Peter

          • Department of Entomology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

        UKÄ Subject classification

        Renewable Bioenergy Research
        Forest Science
        Environmental Sciences related to Agriculture and Land-use

        Publication identifier

        DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1461-9555.2004.00211.x

        Permanent link to this page (URI)

        https://res.slu.se/id/publ/4996