Abstract
The within-plant distribution of pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) was determined in the shoots of vegetative Senecio jacobaea L. Asteraceae plants. Also the distributions of feeding stimulants, soluble sugars and total nitrogen, were determined. PAs were found to decrease with leaf age, sugars were constant, and nitrogen decreased with leaf age. These results were compared with the within-plant distribution of feeding damage by the generalist herbivores Spodoptera exigua Hübner and Mamestra brassicae L. Both generalists showed a strong preference for older leaves. It was concluded, that the herbivores were forced to feed on sub-optimal parts of the plant.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Aerts, R. J., A. Stoker, M. Beishuizen, I. Jaarsma, M. van de Heuvel, E. van der Meijden & R. Verpoorte, 1992. Detrimental effects of Cinchona leaf alkaloids on larvae of the polyphagous insect Spodoptera exigua. Journal of Chemical Ecology 18: 1955–1964.
Allen, S. E., 1974. Chemical Analysis of Ecological Materials. Blackwell Scientific Pubications, Oxford.
Bentley, M. D., D. E. Leonard, W. F. Stoddard & L. H. Zalkow, 1984. Pyrrolizidine alkaloids as larval feeding deterrents for spruce budworm, Choristoneura fumiferana ( Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). Annals of the Entomological Society of America 77: 393–397.
Dam, N. M. van, R. Verpoorte & E. van der Meijden, 1994. Extreme differences in pyrrolizidine alkaloid levels between leaves of Cynoglossum officinale. Phytochemistry 37: 1013–1016.
Dam, N. M. van, L. W. M. Vuister, C. Bergshoeff, H. de Vos & E. van der Meijden, 1995. The `Raison d’être’ of pyrrolizidine alkaloids in Cynoglossum officinale: Deterrent effects against generalist herbivores. Journal of Chemical Ecology 21: 507–523.
Dam, N. M. van, T. J. de Jong, Y. Iwasa & T. Kubo, 1996. Optimal distribution of defences: are plants smart investors? Functional Ecology 10: 128–136.
Dreyer, D. L., K. C. Jones & R. J. Molyneux, 1985. Feeding deterrency of some pyrrolizidine, indolizidine, and quinolizidine alkaloids towards pea aphid (Acyrthosiphon pisum) and evidence for phloem transport of indolizidine alkaloid swainsonine. Journal of Chemical Ecology 11: 1045–1051.
Golterman, H. L., R. S. Clymo & M. A. M. Ohnstad, 1978. Methods for Physical and Chemical Analysis of Fresh Waters. 2nd ed., Blackwell Scientific, Oxford, pp. 99–101.
Hartmann, T. & M. Zimmer, 1986. Organ specific distribution and accumulation of pyrrolizidine alkaloids during the life history of two annual Senecio species. Plant Physiology 112: 67–80.
Hoy, C. W., G. P. Head & F. R. Hall, 1998. Spatial heterogeneity and insect adaptation to toxins. Annual Review of Entomology 43: 571–594.
Iwasa, Y. & T. Kubo, 1996. Optimal level of chemical defense decreasing with leaf age. Theoretical Population Biology 50: 124–148.
Krischik, V. A. & R. F. Denno, 1983. Individual, population, and geographical patterns in plant defense. In: R. F. Denno & M. S. McClure (eds.), Variable Plants and Herbivores in Natural and Managed Systems. Academic Press, New York, pp. 463–512.
Mattocks, A. R., 1967. Spectrophotometric determination of unsaturated pyrrolizidine alkaloids. Analytical Biochemistry 39: 443–448.
McKey, D., 1979. The distribution of secondary compounds within plants. In: G.A. Rosenthal & D. H. Janzen (eds.), Herbivores, Their Interaction with Secondary Plant Metabolites. Academic Press, New York, pp. 55–133.
Meijden, E. van der, 1996. Plant defence, an evolutionary dilemma: contrasting effects of (specialist and generalist) herbivores and natural enemies. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata 80: 307–310.
Mooney, H. A. & S. L. Gulmon, 1982. Constraints on leaf structure and function in reference to herbivory. Bio-Science 32: 198–206.
Raupp, M. J. & R. F. Denno, 1983. Leaf age as a predictor of herbivore distribution and abundance. In: R. F. Denno & M. S. McClure (eds.), Variable Plants and Herbivores in Natural and Managed Systems. Academic Press, New York, pp. 91–124.
Reavey, D., 1993. Why body size matters to caterpillars. In: N. E. Stamp & T. M. Casey (eds.), Caterpillars. Chapman & Hall, New York, pp. 29–91.
Simpson, S. J. & D. Raubenheimer, 1996. Feeding behaviour, sensory physiology and nutrient feedback: a unifying model. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata 80: 55–64.
Slansky, F., 1993. Nutritional ecology: the fundamental quest for nutrients. In: N. E. Stamp & T. M. Casey (eds.), Caterpillars. Chapman & Hall, New York, pp. 29–91.
Vrieling, K., H. de Vos, C. A. M. Wijk, 1993. Genetic analysis of the concentrations of pyrrolizidine alkaloids in Senecio jacobaea. Phytochemistry 32: 1141–1144.
Vrieling, K. & C. A. M. van Wijk, 1994. Estimating costs and benefits of the pyrrolizidine alkaloids of Senecio jacobaea under natural conditions. Oikos 70: 449–454.
Zangerl, A. R. & F. A. Bazzaz, 1992. Theory and pattern in plant defense allocation. In: R. S. Fritz & E. L. Simms (eds.), Plant Resistance to Herbivores and Pathogens. The University of Chicago Press, Chicago, USA, pp. 363–391.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1999 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
de Boer, N.J. (1999). Pyrrolizidine alkaloid distribution in Senecio jacobaea rosettes minimises losses to generalist feeding. In: Simpson, S.J., Mordue, A.J., Hardie, J. (eds) Proceedings of the 10th International Symposium on Insect-Plant Relationships. Series Entomologica, vol 56. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-1890-5_21
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-1890-5_21
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-90-481-5247-6
Online ISBN: 978-94-017-1890-5
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive