Chemical Defences in Aquatic Plants

Ostrofsky, M. L.; Zettler, Erik R.

doi:10.2307/2260363

Cited by 104 publications

(55 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…Further references on allelopathy or secondary metabolites in aquatic angiosperms can be found in McClure (1970), Ostrofsky and Zettler (1986), WiumAndersen (1987), and Gross (1999). Therefore, I do not extensively Cover all literature given there, but rather focus on more recent publications and selected macrophytes.…”

Section: A Angiospermsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Allelopathy of Aquatic Autotrophs

Gross¹

2003

Critical Reviews in Plant Sciences

542

355

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Allelopathy in aquatic environments may provide a competitive advantage to angiosperms, algae, or cyanobacteria in their interaction with other primary producers. Allelopathy can influence the competition between different photoautotrophs for resources and change the succession of species, for exarnple, in phytoplankton cornmunities. Field evidence and laboratory studies indicate that allelopathy occurs in all aquatic habitats (marine and freshwater), and that ail prirnary producing organisms (cyanobacteria, micro-and macroalgae as well as angiospenns) are capable of producing and releasing allelopathically active compounds. Although allelopathy also includes positive (stimulating) interactions, the majority of studies describe the inhibitory activity of ailelopathicaily active compounds. Different mechanisms operate depending on whether allelopathy takes place in the Open water (pelagic zone) or is Substrate associated (benthic habitats). Allelopathical interactions are especiaily common in fully aquatic species, such as submersed macrophytes or benthic algae and cyanobacteria. The prevention of shading by epiphytic and planktonic primary producers and the competition for space may be the ultimate cause for allelopathical interactions. Aquatic ailelochemicals often target multiple physiological processes. The inhibition of photosynthesis of competing primary producers seems tobe a frequent mode of action. Multiple biotic and abiotic factors determine the strength of allelopathic interactions. Bacteria associated with the donor or target organism can metabolize excreted aiielochemicals. Frequently, the impact of surplus or limiting nutrients has been shown to affect the overail production of allelochemicals and their effect on target species. Similarities and differences of ailelopathic interactions in marine and freshwater habitats as well as between the different types of producing organisms are discussed.

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Section: A Angiospermsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Allelopathy of Aquatic Autotrophs

Gross¹

2003

Critical Reviews in Plant Sciences

542

355

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“…Several aquatic angiosperms contain alkaloids (Ostrofsky and Zettler 1986), and watercress tissue is protected by glucosinolates (Newman et al 1996), both groups of secondary metabolites known as potent feeding deterrents in terrestrial plants. Hydrolyzable polyphenols present in M. spicatum possibly affect the growth of Acentria larvae Walenciak et al 2002), but larvae still develop into pupae and adults.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Chemical Defense in Elodea nuttallii Reduces Feeding and Growth of Aquatic Herbivorous Lepidoptera

2007

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The submersed macrophyte Elodea nuttallii (Hydrocharitaceae) is invasive in Europe and frequently found in aquatic plant communities. Many invertebrate herbivores, such as larvae of the generalist aquatic moth, Acentria ephemerella (Lepidoptera, Pyralidae), avoid feeding on E. nuttallii and preferably consume native species. First instar larvae exhibited a high mortality on E. nuttallii compared to the native macrophyte Potamogeton perfoliatus. Mortality of older larvae was also high when fed E. nuttallii exposed to high light intensities. Growth of older larvae was strongly reduced on E. nuttallii compared to pondweeds (Potamogeton lucens). Neither differences in nitrogen nor phosphorus content explained the different performance on these submerged macrophytes, but plants differed in their flavonoid content. To investigate whether plant-derived allelochemicals from E. nuttallii affect larval performance in the same way as live plants, we developed a functional bioassay, in which Acentria larvae were reared on artificial diets. We offered larvae Potamogeton leaf disks coated with crude Elodea extracts and partially purified flavonoids. Elodea extracts deterred larvae from feeding on otherwise preferred Potamogeton leaves, and yet, unknown compounds in the extracts reduced growth and survival of Acentria. The flavonoid fraction containing luteolin-7-O-diglucuronide, apigenin-7-O-diglucuronide, and chrysoeriol-7-O-diglucuronide strongly reduced feeding of larvae, but did not increase mortality. The concentrations of these compounds in our assays were 0.01-0.09% of plant dry mass, which is in the lower range of concentrations found in the field (0.02-1.2%). Chemical defense in E. nuttallii thus plays an ecologically relevant role in this aquatic plant-herbivore system.

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“…Diverse groups of chemical compounds are known in aquatic plants, including alkaloids [33,34], flavonoids, steroids, saponins, phenolics (including tannins), cyanogenic glycosides, glucosinolates [23,29], quinines, and essential oils [32]. The different types of chemical defenses can vary between species, localities, time, and environmental conditions [31].…”

Section: Freshwater and Continental Environmentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It is considered that in freshwater plants, constitutive chemical resistance against herbivores are frequent [31,39,40] presumably because of a high and lengthy exposure to mostly generalist herbivores [34]. Plants, which would be attacked by generalist herbivores, tend to be defended by a diverse collection of toxins in small concentrations, whereas plants attacked by specialist herbivores tend to employ higher levels of compounds, which reduce digestibility, as it happens in numerous terrestrial plants that are consumed by specialist herbivores.…”

Section: Macrophyte Growth Adaptationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Plant Antiherbivore Defense in Diverse Environments

Morquecho-Contreras¹,

Zepeda-Gómez²,

HermiloSánchez-Sánchez³

2018

Pure and Applied Biogeography

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Herbivores can damage plant productivity and fitness; plants have improved defensive traits, such as chemical defenses. Plant species produce specific defensive traits in response of diverse risk factor generated by herbivores. In this chapter, we analyze and compare the defensive traits used by plants in different habitats: aquatic ecosystems, temperate forest, and rainforest. In aquatic environments, the number of herbivores is scarce, and plants develop biomass and restrict defensive compound production. At the terrestrial environment, plants need to accumulate defensive traits for an eventual attack. But the number and quantity of those traits depend on biotic and abiotic factors. In temperate forest, plants have a low growth, and herbivore diversity is low, because there are a few number of defensive traits but in great quantity to guarantee plant survival. In contrast, at tropical forest there is a great herbivore diversity, and plants have a quick growth; thus they develop a great variety of defensive traits. There are substantial differences in plant defensive strategies at different environments. Usually, the aquatic plants use water-soluble and diffusible compounds; plants in rainforest use a plethora of chemical defenses, and in temperate forest, plants utilize physical barriers, resins, and terpenes.

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Chemical Defences in Aquatic Plants

Cited by 104 publications

References 30 publications

Allelopathy of Aquatic Autotrophs

Allelopathy of Aquatic Autotrophs

Chemical Defense in Elodea nuttallii Reduces Feeding and Growth of Aquatic Herbivorous Lepidoptera

Plant Antiherbivore Defense in Diverse Environments

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