Arthropod-Plant Interactions (2018) 12, 41-48

C. Abbate, S. Toscano, R. Arcidiacono, D. Romano, A. Russo and G. Mazzeo (2018)
Induced responses of Bougainvillea glabra Choisy (Nyctaginaceae) against Phenacoccus peruvianus Granara de Willink (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) attack: preliminary results
Arthropod-Plant Interactions 12 (1), 41-48
Abstract: Plants respond to herbivorous attack through a defence system that includes structural barriers, release of toxic chemicals, and attraction of natural enemies of the target pests, etc. In this study, plants of Bougainvillea glabra Choisy (Nyctaginaceae) were artificially infested with the obligate phloem-feeding insect pest Phenacoccus peruvianus Granara de Willink (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) and compared with control uninfested plants. Leaf samples were collected at 2, 6, 12, 24, 48, 96 and 144 h after infestation to monitor the plant response. Proline (Pro), malondialdehyde (MDA), chlorophyll (Chl_a, Chl_b, and Chl_a+b), and total carotenoid (Car) contents, as well as the activities of catalase (CAT) and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) antioxidant enzymes, were measured at each sampling time to better understand the mechanism of plant defences. Proline content was the highest at 2 h after infestation and remained high throughout the experiment, while MDA content differed significantly only at 12 h after infestation. The value of chlorophyll was higher in the control plants, indicating that insect attack seriously compromised the photosynthetic activity of infected plants. Enzymatic activities showed significant increases, CAT of about 50% after 24 h and PAL of about 43% after 6 h. This study will be useful for understanding Bougainvillea plant defence against mealybugs and for showing that this ornamental species is able to activate enzymatic and molecular mechanisms in response to insect attack.
(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): Agatino Russo

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
resistance/tolerance/defence of host

---

Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Phenacoccus peruvianus	Bougainvillea (crop)