A Study on Tansy Chemotypes

Holopainen, M.; Hiltunen, R.; Schantz, Max von

doi:10.1055/s-2006-962707

Cited by 58 publications

(41 citation statements)

References 1 publication

(1 reference statement)

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“…The appearance of essential oils is qualitatively and quantitatively very variable in tansy (Schantz and JaÈ rvi 1966;TeÂ teÂ nyi et al 1975;Holopainen et al 1987). Thus, the volatile pattern of the shields of tansy-feeding cassidine larvae may vary with the chemical composition of the host plant.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Unexpected reactions of a generalist predator towards defensive devices of cassidine larvae (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae)

Müller

Hilker

1999

Oecologia

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Studies of multitrophic interactions show that insect faeces may act as a defensive device against predators, as kairomone source for attraction of antagonists and as a significant energy source for micro-organisms. In the present study, we investigated effects of larval faeces from leaf beetles of the subfamiliy Cassidinae towards a generalist predator, the ant Myrmica rubra. Most cassidine larvae collect their faeces together with exuviae as so-called abdominal defensive shields on two movable spines at the posterior tip. The effects of these abdominal shields towards M. rubra were studied in three cassidine species, which feed mono- or oligophagously upon tansy (Chrysanthemum vulgare): Cassida denticollis and C. sanguinosa which possess such faecal shields and, for comparison, C. stigmatica with shields made of exuviae only (=skin shield). Bioassays revealed that larvae with both faecal and skin shields were attacked by the ant M. rubra more often than larvae whose shields had been removed. This attractiveness of shields towards ants contrasts with other studies, which found that abdominal shields of chrysomelid larvae act as defensive mechanisms against generalist predators like ants. To characterize the attractive cues of the shields, we studied possible chemical and physical stimuli. Olfactometer bioassays with M. rubra and chemical analyses revealed that plant-derived volatiles from faecal shields of C. denticollis attracted the ant, whereas odour from skin shields of C. stigmatica did not. Skin shields also emitted volatiles which derived from tansy, but in much lower quantities. Exclusion of contact to surface chemicals of a faecal shield reduced the ants' aggressive behaviour, whereas a change in the moisture content of a faecal shield had no influence. Visual stimuli cannot be ruled out as enhancing the ants' reaction towards faecal shields with their attractive volatiles, and are suggested to play a major role in the ants' response towards skin shields. This novel attractive effect of the abdominal shields of cassidine larvae is discussed, especially with respect to host plant chemistry and possible functions of the shields that might outweigh the negative consequences of the attraction of the predator M. rubra.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Unexpected reactions of a generalist predator towards defensive devices of cassidine larvae (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae)

Müller

Hilker

1999

Oecologia

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“…This chemical diversity does not only occur between and within plant families but also within plant genera or even within one plant species. In several non-aromatic and aromatic species, different chemotypes can be defined by the relative composition of metabolites belonging to one metabolite class; for example, the abundance of pyrrolizidine alkaloids in Senecio jacobaea L. (Asteraceae) (Macel and Klinkhamer 2010), or the terpene profiles in Ocimum basilicum (L.) (Lamiaceae), Chamelaucium uncinatum Schulze (Myrtaceae) and Tanacetum vulgare L. (Asteraceae) (Holopainen et al 1987b;Grayer et al 1996;Egerton-Warburton et al 1998). The terpene variation is mainly under genetic control but can be further influenced by ecological factors (Langenheim 1994).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Intraspecific plant chemical diversity and its relation to herbivory

2010

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Several aromatic plant species are well known for their high intraspecific variation in terpene composition. Within these species, different chemotypes can be distinguished, which are characterised by one major metabolite and distinct satellite compounds in lower abundance. Such intraspecific differences in plant quality should have major effects on herbivorous insects but may also be partly shaped by their feeding activities. In the present study, the effects of selected Tanacetum vulgare L. chemotypes on herbivore presence and preferences were investigated, and the naturally occurring diversity of T. vulgare was explored at a small spatial scale. A distinct distribution pattern of aphids and miners was found on different chemotypes of different origin of T. vulgare, with species-specific preferences of different herbivorous species. Larvae of two generalist noctuid species performed worse on most chemotypes of T. vulgare than on other plant species. Furthermore, the specific terpene composition of T. vulgare influenced larval development of these two generalist species. The naturally occurring chemical diversity of T. vulgare plants in an area smaller than 3 km(2) was extremely high, exhibiting 14 different chemotypes. Several individual patches of T. vulgare consisted of more than one chemotype. In conclusion, the existing chemotypical pattern of T. vulgare plants leads to a species-specific distribution of herbivores but may in turn be the result of contrasting selection pressures of various specialist and generalist herbivores.

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“…This aromatic species of Eurasian origin has become established in North America as a result of being introduced originally for medicinal purposes (Mitich 1992;Schmitz 1998). According to the qualitative and quantitative composition of mono-and sesquiterpenes, T. vulgare can be grouped into well-defined chemotypes, in which the concentration of the main component varies between 41-99%, and mixed chemotypes, in which one to three satellite compounds are prominent in addition to the main component (Holopainen et al 1987). Chemical polymorphism is a widespread phenomenon among aromatic plant species and is allegedly dependent upon a combination of endogenous and exogenous factors (Barra 2009).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

High chemical diversity of a plant species is accompanied by increased chemical defence in invasive populations

et al. 2011

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Mechanisms contributing to the invasive success of plants are still only partly understood. A main assumption is that an escape from specialized enemies in introduced ranges allows a reduction of chemical defences resulting in an increase in growth and reproduction and thus increased competitive ability of introduced plants. Not only variation in concentration but also variation in composition of chemical compounds between individuals may be a key advantage for plants introduced to novel areas impeding adaptation of different plant antagonists. To investigate quantitative and qualitative variation of putative defence compounds and investment of resources in growth, we conducted a common garden experiment in the native range with seeds of 13 native and 9 introduced populations of Tanacetum vulgare, an aromatic plant forming different chemotypes. After 3.5 months, plants of introduced populations had similar biomass but more stems and higher concentrations of volatile secondary compounds (mainly terpenes) than plants of native populations. Both native and invasive T. vulgare populations exhibited high chemotypic variation with nine chemotypes occurring on both continents, whereas several were found exclusively either in plants originating from the native (n = 10) or invasive (n = 2) range. Due to the known negative effects of many mono-and sesquiterpenes on various organisms, we propose that high concentrations of these secondary compounds accompanied by high chemotypic diversity may facilitate the invasion success of a plant species.

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A Study on Tansy Chemotypes

Cited by 58 publications

References 1 publication

Unexpected reactions of a generalist predator towards defensive devices of cassidine larvae (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae)

Unexpected reactions of a generalist predator towards defensive devices of cassidine larvae (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae)

Intraspecific plant chemical diversity and its relation to herbivory

High chemical diversity of a plant species is accompanied by increased chemical defence in invasive populations

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