The effect of an insect herbivore and a rust fungus individually, and combined in sequence, on the growth of two Rumex species.

Hatcher, P. E. and Paul, N. D. and Ayres, P. G. and Whittaker, J. B. (1994) The effect of an insect herbivore and a rust fungus individually, and combined in sequence, on the growth of two Rumex species. New Phytologist, 128 (1). pp. 71-78. ISSN 1469-8137

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Abstract

The chrysomelid beetle Gastrophysa viridula and the rust fungus Urmnyces rumicis both occur on leaves of Rumex crispus and R. obtusifolius. We investigated the effect of beetle grazing or rust infection individually and when combined in sequence on the growth of their hosts in the field. Singly, beetle or rust reduced leaf area and plant biomass; the effect was greater on R. crispus, and rust caused greater damage than the beetle. Beetle grazing with subsequent rust infection caused damage no greater than that caused by rust alone, although on R. obtusifolius damage was greater than that from beetle grazing alone. Rust infection of R. obtusifolius with subsequent beetle grazing produced damage similar to that from other treatments; involving rust infection. In R. crispus this treatment produced the greatest reduction in biomass, The reductions in root and total plant weight from rust infection with subsequent beetle grazing were accurately predicted by a model including the damage produced by beetle and rust alone and the length of time each was present on the plant. This model also predicted accurately the damage to R. obtusifolius from the beetle followed by rust treatment, but over-estimated by up to 40% the damage to R. crispus. This can be explained mainly by an inhibition of rust infection by beetle grazing.

Item Type:
Journal Article
Journal or Publication Title:
New Phytologist
Uncontrolled Keywords:
/dk/atira/pure/researchoutput/libraryofcongress/ge
Subjects:
?? CHRYSOMELIDAE • GASTROPHRSA VIRIDULA • GRAZING • INDUCED RESISTANCE • POLYGONACEAE • UROMYCES RUMICISMEDICINE(ALL)GE ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES ??
ID Code:
22448
Deposited By:
Deposited On:
29 Jan 2009 16:26
Refereed?:
Yes
Published?:
Published
Last Modified:
18 Sep 2023 00:09