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Endophyte-mediated interactions between cauliflower, the herbivore Spodoptera litura, and the ectoparasitoid Bracon hebetor

  • Plant-microbe-animal interactions - Original research
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Abstract

Fungal endosymbionts in plants may influence interactions among plants, herbivores and their parasitoids through the production of secondary metabolites. We used a lepidopteran pest and its generalist parasitoid to test the effect of endophyte-infected plants on a third trophic level. Endophytic fungi, Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus niger, isolated from Acacia arabica, were used to infect cauliflower plants. We found that the presence of the endophyte in the plants significantly extended the development period of Spodoptera litura (Fab.) larvae. Feeding of the host on endophyte-infected plants further adversely affected the development and performance of its parasitoid, Bracon hebetor (Say). A negative impact was also recorded for longevity and fecundity of endophyte-naive parasitoid females due to the parasitization of host larvae fed on endophyte-infected plants. The presence of endophytes in the diet of the host larvae significantly prolonged the development of the parasitoid. A strong detrimental effect was also recorded for larval survival and emergence of parasitoid adults. The longevity and parasitism rate of female wasps were reduced significantly due to the ingestion of endophyte-infected cauliflower plants by S. litura larvae. Overall, we found that both endophytic fungi had a negative impact on the parasitoid.

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Acknowledgments

Financial assistance was received from the University Grants Commission, New Delhi, India, under the University with Potential for Excellence scheme, which is duly acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, India

    Tamanreet Kaur & Sanehdeep Kaur

  2. Department of Microbiology, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, India

    Bahaderjeet Singh & Amarjeet Kaur

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  1. Tamanreet Kaur
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Correspondence to Sanehdeep Kaur.

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Communicated by Corné Pieterse.

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Kaur, T., Singh, B., Kaur, A. et al. Endophyte-mediated interactions between cauliflower, the herbivore Spodoptera litura, and the ectoparasitoid Bracon hebetor . Oecologia 179, 487–494 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-015-3358-7

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