Journal
ECOLOGY LETTERS
Volume 14, Issue 11, Pages 1075-1083Publisher
WILEY-BLACKWELL
DOI: 10.1111/j.1461-0248.2011.01674.x
Keywords
Induced defense; insect oviposition; multitrophic interaction; plant volatiles; Zea mays
Categories
Funding
- International Foundation for Science (IFS)
- European Union [DCI-FOOD/2010/230224]
- Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council of the UK
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Natural enemies respond to herbivore-induced plant volatiles (HIPVs), but an often overlooked aspect is that there may be genotypic variation in these 'indirect' plant defence traits within plant species. We found that egg deposition by stemborer moths (Chile partellus) on maize landrace varieties caused emission of HIPVs that attract parasitic wasps. Notably, however, the oviposition-induced release of parasitoid attractants was completely absent in commercial hybrid maize varieties. In the landraces, not only were egg parasitoids (Trichogramma bournieri) attracted but also larval parasitoids (Cotesia sesamiae). This implies a sophisticated defence strategy whereby parasitoids are recruited in anticipation of egg hatching. The effect was systemic and caused by an elicitor, which could be extracted from egg materials associated with attachment to leaves. Our findings suggest that indirect plant defence traits may have become lost during crop breeding and could be valuable in new resistance breeding for sustainable agriculture.
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