Effects of Plant Epicuticular Lipids on Insect Herbivores

The primary role of epicuticular lipids on aerial plant surfaces is prevention of water loss, but their species-specific chemical composition and their variable crystal morphology suggest other ecological functions. Among these functions is mediation of interactions between plants and insect herbivo...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Annual review of entomology 1995-01, Vol.40 (1), p.171-194
Main Authors: Eigenbrode, S D, Espelie, K E
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
CERAS
CHEMICAL ECOLOGY
CIRE
CROPS
CULTIVOS
CUTICLE
DEFENSE MECHANISMS
ECOLOGIA
ECOLOGIE
ECOLOGY
HERBIVORE
HERBIVORES
HERBIVOROS
INFESTACION
INFESTATION
INSECT PESTS
INSECTE NUISIBLE
INSECTOS DANINOS
LIPIDE
LIPIDOS
LIPIDS
PEST INSECTS
PLANTE DE CULTURE
REVIEWS
SUSCEPTIBILITY
WAXES
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Summary:The primary role of epicuticular lipids on aerial plant surfaces is prevention of water loss, but their species-specific chemical composition and their variable crystal morphology suggest other ecological functions. Among these functions is mediation of interactions between plants and insect herbivores. Epicuticular lipid extracts and individual lipid components enhance or deter oviposition, movement, and feeding. The physical structure of plant surface lipids can affect insect herbivore attachment and locomotion. Surface lipids may also affect herbivores indirectly by influencing predatory and parasitic insects. Glossy crop phenotypes are often less susceptible to insect herbivores than are normal phenotypes. The epicuticular lipids of glossy plants are usually reduced in amount and have dramatically different chemical composition and morphology. Study of the basis of the reduced susceptibility of glossy plants can help elucidate the role of plant surface lipids in insect-plant interactions.
ISSN:0066-4170
1545-4487
DOI:10.1146/annurev.en.40.010195.001131