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<p>Classical biocontrol can be an efficient method to manage invasive plants, although the effectiveness of biocontrol agents (BCAs) is highly variable. The role of plant defenses and their response to environmental gradients and herbivore damage, may partially explain this variability. Air potato (<i>Dioscorea bulbifera</i>) is a highly invasive plant in the USA, particularly in Florida<i>. Lilioceris cheni</i> Gressitt and Kimoto 1961 (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), a specialist on <i>D. bulbifera</i>, successfully established as its BCA, although its efficacy varies across Florida. Phytochemicals in <i>D. bulbifera</i>, such as phenols or saponins, may mediate preference and performance of <i>L. cheni.</i> In the field, we recorded plant cover and beetle damage at thirteen populations across Florida. In the greenhouse, we conducted chemical and feeding bioassays by applying jasmonic acid (JA) and salicylic acid (SA) to <i>D. bulbifera</i> plants and recorded beetle damage, and quantified saponin and phenol production. We also conducted olfaction-based choice bioassays to determine beetle preferences. We found that beetle damage was negatively correlated with plant cover in the field and that damage and saponin levels were positively correlated. In the greenhouse, JA-treated plants had higher herbivory and saponin levels than SA-treated plants. JA-treated and Beetle damaged plants were also preferred in choice bioassays. These findings imply potential synergistic effects of BCA feeding through induction of plant defenses, which may inform the timing and frequency of BCA field releases. Our findings that induced plant defenses increase BCA feeding, and potentially their effectiveness, may apply more broadly because all approved BCA are highly specialized on their host plants. Therefore, interactions between invasive plants and their BCAs, and how they are mediated by plant defenses, deserve more attention as potential methods to increase the effectiveness of classical biocontrol.</p>

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Induced defenses increase preference and feeding of a biocontrol herbivore to an invasive plant.

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年2月8日

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  • Jasleen Kaur,
  • Emily Kraus,
  • Eric Rohrig,
  • Diego Salazar,
  • Erin Clifton,
  • Philip G. Hahn

摘要

Classical biocontrol can be an efficient method to manage invasive plants, although the effectiveness of biocontrol agents (BCAs) is highly variable. The role of plant defenses and their response to environmental gradients and herbivore damage, may partially explain this variability. Air potato (Dioscorea bulbifera) is a highly invasive plant in the USA, particularly in Florida. Lilioceris cheni Gressitt and Kimoto 1961 (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), a specialist on D. bulbifera, successfully established as its BCA, although its efficacy varies across Florida. Phytochemicals in D. bulbifera, such as phenols or saponins, may mediate preference and performance of L. cheni. In the field, we recorded plant cover and beetle damage at thirteen populations across Florida. In the greenhouse, we conducted chemical and feeding bioassays by applying jasmonic acid (JA) and salicylic acid (SA) to D. bulbifera plants and recorded beetle damage, and quantified saponin and phenol production. We also conducted olfaction-based choice bioassays to determine beetle preferences. We found that beetle damage was negatively correlated with plant cover in the field and that damage and saponin levels were positively correlated. In the greenhouse, JA-treated plants had higher herbivory and saponin levels than SA-treated plants. JA-treated and Beetle damaged plants were also preferred in choice bioassays. These findings imply potential synergistic effects of BCA feeding through induction of plant defenses, which may inform the timing and frequency of BCA field releases. Our findings that induced plant defenses increase BCA feeding, and potentially their effectiveness, may apply more broadly because all approved BCA are highly specialized on their host plants. Therefore, interactions between invasive plants and their BCAs, and how they are mediated by plant defenses, deserve more attention as potential methods to increase the effectiveness of classical biocontrol.