Defensive effect of surface flavonoid aglycones of Betula pubescens leaves against first instar Epirrita autumnata larvae

• Published in: Journal of chemical ecology 2004-11, Vol.30 (11), p.2257-2268
• Main Authors: Lahtinen, M, Salminen, J.P, Kapari, L, Lempa, K, Ossipov, V, Sinkkonen, J, Valkama, E, Haukioja, E, Pihlaja, K
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animal and plant ecology; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Autoecology; Betula - chemistry; Betula pubescens; Betulaceae; Biological and medical sciences; Butterflies & moths; Cell Surface Extensions - metabolism; Epirrita autumnata; Feeding Behavior - drug effects; flavanoids; Flavonoids - chemistry; Flavonoids - pharmacology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects; Geometridae; insect pests; Larva - drug effects; Larva - growth & development; Larvae; leaf surfaces; Leaves; Mortality; Moths - drug effects; Moths - growth & development; Moths - metabolism; pest resistance; plant exudates; Plant Leaves - chemistry; plant-insect relations; Trees
• ISSN: 0098-0331; 1573-1561
• DOI: 10.1023/B:JOEC.0000048787.34388.dd

The surface of birch leaves contains glandular trichomes that secrete exudates containing flavonoid aglycones. We investigated the biological activities of white birch (Betula pubescens) leaf surface exudates against larvae of the autumnal moth, Epirrita autumnata, a common insect pest of birch. We found that tree-specific mortality (up to 100%) of first instar larvae correlated strongly with the tree-specific contents of surface flavonoid aglycones (r(s) = 0.905) in emerging leaves. We also found that first instars clearly preferred birch buds from which surface exudates had been removed. In addition, the duration of the first instar was shortened by 29%, and the weights and relative growth rates of first instars improved by 8% and 52%, respectively, as a result of removal of the exudates from their leaf diet. The correlation of tree-specific foliar contents of flavonoid aglycones, especially 5-hydroxy-4',7-dimethoxyflavanone, with changes in larval performance, suggests that flavonoid aglycones are responsible for the changes observed in first instar larval performance. The results show that chemical characteristics of birch leaves are effective against neonate E. autumnata larvae. However, the removal of leaf surface exudates from fully expanded leaves did not affect the leaf acceptance for the voracious fifth instars. This is probably a result of reduction in contents of flavonoid aglycones compared to those of emerging leaves.