potential influence of rhizobium activity on the availability of nitrogen to legume herbivores

Evidence is presented which supports the hypothesis that allantoin, a ureide that is a major storage form of nitrogen (N) in legumes whose N is derived from N-fixation, is not utilizable by at least some insect herbivores. We suggest that the nutritive quality of soybean foliage for Mexican bean bee...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Oecologia 1984-03, Vol.61 (3), p.337-341
Main Authors: Wilson, K.G, Stinner, R.E
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal and plant ecology
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Autoecology
Beetles
Biological and medical sciences
Corylophidae
Epilachna varivestis
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
General aspects
Herbivores
Insect larvae
Larval development
Leaves
Legumes
Nitrates
Nitrogen
plant nutrition
Plants
Rhizobium
soil biology
soil science
Soybeans
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Summary:Evidence is presented which supports the hypothesis that allantoin, a ureide that is a major storage form of nitrogen (N) in legumes whose N is derived from N-fixation, is not utilizable by at least some insect herbivores. We suggest that the nutritive quality of soybean foliage for Mexican bean beetles is influenced by soil nitrogen level through its impact on rhizobial activity which indirectly alters the proportion of ureide-nitrogen to amino acid-nitrogen without affecting total Kjeldahl-nitrogen. This may provide a basic mechanism for protecting the nitrogen stores of legumes from herbivory while avoiding the metabolic burden of secondary compound production.
ISSN:0029-8549
1432-1939
DOI:10.1007/bf00379631