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Nickel hyperaccumulation by Streptanthus polygaloides protects against the folivore Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae)

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Abstract

We determined the effectiveness of Ni as an elemental defence of Streptanthus polygaloides (Brassicaceae) against a crucifer specialist folivore, diamondback moth (DBM), Plutella xylostella. An oviposition experiment used arrays of S. polygaloides grown on Ni-amended (high-Ni) soil interspersed with plants grown on unamended (low-Ni) soil and eggs were allowed to hatch and larvae fed freely among plants in the arrays. We also explored oviposition preference by allowing moths to oviposit on foil sheets coated with high- or low-Ni plant extract. This was followed by an experiment using low-Ni plant extract to which varying amounts of Ni had been added and an experiment using sheets coated with sinigrin (allyl glucosinolate) as an oviposition stimulant. Diamondback moths laid 2.5-fold more eggs on low-Ni plants than on high-Ni plants and larval feeding was greater on low-Ni plants. High-Ni plants grew twice as tall, produced more leaves, and produced almost 3.5-fold more flowers. Low-Ni plants contained more allyl glucosinolate than high-Ni plants and moths preferred to oviposit on foil sheets dipped in low-Ni plant extract. Moths showed no preference when Ni concentration of low-Ni extract was varied and overwhelmingly preferred sinigrin coated sheets. We conclude that Ni hyperaccumulation is an effective elemental defence against this herbivore, increasing plant fitness through a combination of toxicity to DBM larvae and decreased oviposition by adults.

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank Dr. John Odom for assistance with ICP analysis and Bill Wills for assisting with carbon and nitrogen analysis. Glucosinolate analysis was performed by POS Pilot Plant Corporation of Saskatoon, Canada. The authors express gratitude to Dr. Debbie Folkerts, Dr. Mark MacKenzie and two anonymous reviewers for critically reviewing this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn University,  , AL, 36849-5407, USA

    Edward M. Jhee & Robert S. Boyd

  2. Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Auburn University,  , AL, 36849-5413, USA

    Micky D. Eubanks

  3. Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS, 39406-5018, USA

    Micheal A. Davis

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  1. Edward M. Jhee
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  2. Robert S. Boyd
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  3. Micky D. Eubanks
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  4. Micheal A. Davis
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Correspondence to Robert S. Boyd.

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Jhee, E., Boyd, R., Eubanks, M. et al. Nickel hyperaccumulation by Streptanthus polygaloides protects against the folivore Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae). Plant Ecol 183, 91–104 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11258-005-9009-z

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