Stem tissue mass density is linked to growth and resistance to a stem-boring insect in Alternanthera philoxeroides

作者：Pan, Xiaoyun^*; Jia, Xin; Zeng, Jing; Sosa, Alejandro; Li, Bo; Chen, Jiakuan

来源：Plant Species Biology, 2011, 26(1): 58-65.

DOI：10.1111/j.1442-1984.2010.00307.x

• growth rate
• herbivore resistance
• stem anatomy
• stem tissue mass density
• stem-boring insect

To investigate how stem anatomical structure is linked to growth and resistance to stem-boring insects in a herbaceous species, six populations of alligatorweed (Alternanthera philoxeroides) were grown in a common garden. Stem growth rate (GR) of A. philoxeroides and pupation rate as an estimate of resistance to a stem-boring insect (Agasicles hygrophila) were quantified. Stem tissue mass density (TMD) was measured and stem anatomical traits were analysed on cross-sectional areas (CSA). Stem TMD was positively correlated with resistance (i.e. negatively correlated with pupation rate) and negatively correlated with GR. Stem cortex CSA (%) and vascular bundle (VB) density (no./mm2) were positively related to stem TMD and negatively related to pupation rate. The GR was positively related to VB CSA (%) and negatively related to VB density. These results suggest that stem TMD, which results from a high fraction in cortex CSA and high VB density, is a key determinant of resistance to a stem-boring specialist in A. philoxeroides. The high resistance of plants with higher stem TMD may partially impose a cost to plant growth.

• 出版日期2011-1
• 单位复旦大学