Abstract
Jasmonic acid (JA) is a key molecule initiating plant defensive responses to attack by pathogens and herbivores. This phytohormone is produced at sites of insect damage and is ingested by feeding insects, but its subsequent occurrence in insect tissues remains to be studied. We report the presence of JA in eggs and neonates of all nine lepidopteran species that we screened, representing four superfamilies and five families of Lepidoptera. Concentrations of JA in some lepidopteran species far exceeded those found in most plant species. Levels of JA varied significantly among species and between eggs and neonates of the same species. In some cases, eggs contained significantly more JA than neonates, but for at least one species (Lymantria dispar) neonates had more JA than their eggs despite lacking food upon emergence. The presence of JA in eggs and neonates across a wide taxonomic range may indicate that JA has an undescribed function in insects.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
M. Hilker C. Stein R. Schröder M. Varama R. Mumm (2005) ArticleTitleInsect egg deposition induces defence responses in Pinus sylvestris: characterisation of the elicitor J. Exp. Biol. 208 1849–1854 Occurrence Handle10.1242/jeb.01578 Occurrence Handle15879065
X. Li M. A. Schuler M. R. Berenbaum (2002) ArticleTitleJasmonate and salicylate induce expression of herbivore cytochrome P450 genes Nature 419 712–715 Occurrence Handle10.1038/nature01003 Occurrence Handle12384696
C. C. Mapes P. J. Davies (2001) ArticleTitleIndole-3-acetic acid and ball gall development on Solidago altissima New Phytol. 151 203–212 Occurrence Handle10.1046/j.1469-8137.2001.00158.x
T. Meiners M. Hilker (2000) ArticleTitleInduction of plant synomones by oviposition of a phytophagous insect J. Chem. Ecol. 26 221–232 Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1005453830961
E. A. Schmelz J. Engelberth H. T. Alborn P. O'Donnell M. Sammons H. Toshima J. H. Tumlinson (2003) ArticleTitleSimultaneous analysis of phytohormones, phytotoxins, and volatile organic compounds in plants Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA 100 10552–10557 Occurrence Handle10.1073/pnas.1633615100 Occurrence Handle12874387
E. A. Schmelz J. Engelberth J. H. Tumlinson A. Block H. T. Alborn (2004) ArticleTitleThe use of vapor phase extraction in metabolic profiling of phytohormones and other metabolites Plant J. 39 790–808 Occurrence Handle10.1111/j.1365-313X.2004.02168.x Occurrence Handle15315639
J. C. Schultz H. M. Appel (2004) ArticleTitleCross-kingdom cross-talk: hormones shared by plants and their insect herbivores Ecology 85 70–77
R. R. Sokal F. J. Rohlf (1995) Biometry EditionNumber3rd edn W.H. Freeman New York
D. W. Stanley-Samuelson V. K. Pedibhotla (1996) ArticleTitleWhat can we learn from prostaglandins and related eicosanoids in insects Insect Biochem. Mol. Biol. 26 223–234 Occurrence Handle10.1016/0965-1748(95)00092-5 Occurrence Handle8900594
STATISTIX 2003. User Manual, Release 8.0. Analytical Software, Tallahassee, FL.
L. L. Walling (2000) ArticleTitleThe myriad plant responses to herbivores J. Plant Growth Regul. 19 195–216 Occurrence Handle11038228
Acknowledgements
We thank J. Saunders, A. Conrad, and K. Cortellini for logistical support, E. Bogus and J. Engelberth for technical assistance, A. Boughton for discussion of our results, J. Lewis and T. Green (USDA, Tifton, GA), J. Dyer (USDA, Ames, IA), M. Grove (Penn State), J. Tanner (USDA, Otis, MA), B. Cash (North Carolina State Univ.), and M. Alleyne (Univ. of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign) for eggs and/or diet. We thank M. C. Mescher, J. H. Tumlinson, J. C. Schultz, and two anonymous reviewers for helpful comments on the manuscript. The project was supported by the USDA National Research Initiative (#2002-35302-12375), the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, and the Beckman Foundation.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Tooker, J.F., De Moraes, C.M. Jasmonate in Lepidopteran Eggs and Neonates. J Chem Ecol 31, 2753–2759 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10886-005-8553-2
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10886-005-8553-2