Carbon dioxide‐ and temperature‐mediated changes in plant defensive compounds alter food utilization of herbivores

Abstract

Although the impact of elevated carbon dioxide and rising temperature on plants and animals has been extensively documented recently, only limited understanding exists regarding their combined effects. The objective of this research was to address the consequences of using combinations of elevated CO2 and elevated temperature on a plant's defensive chemistry, and subsequent utilization of the plant as insect food. Our results indicated that elevated CO2 and increased temperature, for the most part, act independently on the production of defensive compounds in broccoli leaves (Brassica oleracea L. var. italica). CO2 concentrations had significant effects on the foliar water content, total phenolic compounds, polyphenol oxidase and trypsin inhibitor concentrations. The herbivore Spodoptera litura (Fabricius; Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) responded to changes in the plant secondary chemistry, with larvae consuming more plant materials that had been exposed to elevated CO2. The food utilization efficiencies of second‐instar larvae were more sensitive to CO2‐treated foliage than those of the third‐ and fourth‐instar larvae. Temperature did exert a significant effect on food utilization (ECD) by the larvae. Our study will provide important information in future predictions on plant–insect interactions as a result of climate change. The study also demonstrated that since various larval stages might respond differently to climate change, this possibility needs to be considered in future forecasting and monitoring.

Elevated CO2 Altered Rice VOCs Aggravate Population Occurrence of Brown Planthoppers by Improving Host Selection Ability

“…According to the report published by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the atmospheric CO 2 concentration increased by nearly 10 ppm in the past five years, and it was still growing continuously [ 1 ], and was predicted to reach 800 ppm by the end of the 21st century [ 2 ]. As a raw material for photosynthesis, elevated CO 2 can directly affect the photosynthetic rate of plants [ 3 ], further affect the C/N ratio of plant tissues [ 4 , 5 , 6 ], and simultaneously change the allocation of primary and secondary metabolites in plant tissues [ 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 ].…”

Influence of an elevated CO2level on life history parameters and hormone pathway or vitellogenin metabolism of the brown planthopper

“…As the substrate of plant photosynthesis, the change of CO 2 concentration directly affects the photosynthesis and metabolism of plants, especially C 3 plants (Ainsworth & Long, 2005; Ainsworth et al., 2007; Long et al., 2005). The augment of atmosphere CO 2 concentration could improve the photosynthesis efficiency, biomass and carbon‐to‐nitrogen ratio of C 3 plants, which could lead to changes in the contents of primary and second metabolism (Dáder et al., 2016; Lindroth, 2010; Sun et al., 2009; Teawkul & Hwang, 2019; Vassiliadis et al., 2016), then affect the growth and physiological metabolism of insect herbivores fed on them (Paulo et al., 2020; Stacey & Fellowes, 2002; Stiling & Cornelissen, 2007; Trębicki et al., 2017; Zavala et al., 2013).…”

Indirect effect of elevated CO2 concentration on Bemisia tabaci MEAM1 feeding on Bt soybean plants

“…Generally, an increase in carbon allocation reduces the amount of nitrogen in the plant tissues, thereby reducing the amount of soluble proteins and amino acids (Broberg, Högy, & Pleijel, 2017; Ryan, Emiljanowicz, Härri, & Newman, 2014; Sun, Jing, & Ge, 2009). In addition, these changes may cause alterations in the production of secondary metabolites and plant defences (Bidart‐Bouzat & Imeh‐Nathaniel, 2008; Casteel et al., 2008; Guo et al., 2014; Rajashekar, 2018; Teawkul & Hwang, 2019; Zavala, Nabity, & DeLucia, 2013). Several studies have reported changes in the sugar levels, flavonoids, caffeic acid, total phenolics, antioxidant capacity and jasmonic acid pathway of plants exposed to high concentrations of CO 2 (Becker & Kläring, 2016; Giri, Armstrong, & Rajashekar, 2016; Jin et al., 2015; Li et al., 2019; Moretti, Mattos, Calbo, & Sargent, 2010).…”