Journal of Applied Entomology (2021) 145, 567-574
Jin-Yan Wang, Neng-Neng Fan, Evan Siemann, Jie-Xian Jiang and Nian-Feng Wan (2021)
Plant-mediated effects on life history traits of entomovirus infected caterpillars of Spodoptera exigua
Journal of Applied Entomology 145 (6), 567-574
Abstract: It has been reported that host plants are able to mediate the interactions between insect herbivores and entomoviruses, but how plants affect growth, development, detoxifying enzymes and metabolic enzymes of herbivores infected by entomoviruses has only rarely been studied so far. We compared growth, development duration, activity of a detoxifying enzyme (carboxylesterase) and a metabolic enzyme (acetylcholinesterase) of a caterpillar (Spodoptera exigua) infected with an entomovirus (SeMNPV) or left non-infected that were fed one of four plants (Ipomoea aquatica, Brassica oleracea, Glycine max or Zea mays). Developmental duration was shorter but growth (length, mass) and enzyme activities were higher in NPV-infected caterpillars fed I. aquatica or B. oleracea than those fed G. max or Z. mays. This study suggests that host plants influence the growth impacts of entomoviruses on herbivores by affecting the enzymes of herbivores.
(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): Evan Siemann
Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
environment/habitat manipulation
