Journal of Pest Science (2015) 88, 555-562

A.M. Muvea, R. Meyhöfer, N.K. Maniania, H.-M. Poehling, S. Ekesi and S. Subramanian (2015)
Behavioral responses of Thrips tabaci Lindeman to endophyte-inoculated onion plants
Journal of Pest Science 88 (3), 555-562
Abstract: Endophytic fungi colonize healthy plant tissues and can in some cases induce systemic resistance to the host against biotic and abiotic stresses. In our previous study, Hypocrea lixii isolate F3ST1 was able to colonize onion plants endophytically and conferred resistance to them against onion thrips, Thrips tabaci. To further elucidate the mechanism of resistance, we examined the behavioral response of adult and larval stages of T. tabaci to endophyte-inoculated (E+) and endophyte-free (E-) onion plants/sections. In choice experiments, female T. tabaci preferred E- over E+ plants. The number of feeding punctures and eggs was more on E- than on E+ plants. Oviposition was reduced sixfold on E+ plants within a 72-h experimental period. In the Y-tube olfactometer assay, thrips showed a 3.3-fold preference for E- plants. In individual larval choice experiments, significantly more first and second instars were found on the leaf sections of E- as compared to the E+ plants. In the settlement preference assay with groups of second instars, more larvae preferred leaf sections from E- over E+ plants with incremental time. Our findings suggest that endophyte-colonized onion plants may trigger antixenotic repellence of T. tabaci, impacting their biology. This repellence could be exploited in thrips control programs by using endophyte-inoculated plants in the field.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Rainer Meyhöfer, Hans-Michael Poehling, Nguya K. Maniania, Sevgan Subramanian, Sunday Ekesi

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
resistance/tolerance/defence of host
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
general biology - morphology - evolution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Thrips tabaci	Onion/garlic/leek (Allium)
Trichoderma harzianum (antagonist)