Tannins: Does Structure Determine Function? An Ecological Perspective

Zucker, William V.

doi:10.1086/284065

Cited by 482 publications

(269 citation statements)

References 40 publications

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“…Lignins are components of cellular walls, especially of sclerenchyma and xylem. Condensed tannins are accumulated in the cell wall as well (Zucker, 1983), and therefore sucking herbivores do not ingest them.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Insect folivory in Didymopanax vinosum (Apiaceae) in a vegetation mosaic of Brazilian cerrado

Varanda

Pais

2006

Braz. J. Biol.

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Susceptibility of Didymopanax vinosum (Apiaceae) to insect herbivores was investigated in three sites of a cerrado mosaic -composed of campo cerrado (a grassland with scattered trees and shrubs), cerradão (a tall woodland) and cerrado sensu stricto (intermediate between the two) -situated in Cerrado Pé-deGigante, Santa Rita do Passa Quatro, SP, Brazil. We also examined the relationship of folivory with the composition and abundance of the insect herbivore fauna, and with several nutritional and defensive plant characteristics (water, nitrogen, cellulose, lignin, tannin leaf contents, and leaf toughness). We collected insects associated with D. vinosum every month, and we measured leaf damage every three months. In general, the annual folivory differed among sites. It reached the highest rates in site 1 and site 3: 7.33 and 8.5 percent, respectively. Only 1.32 percent of annual folivory was observed in site 2. These levels resulted from the higher abundance, in sites 1 and 3, of the thrips Liothrips didymopanacis (Phlaeothripidae), the most abundant herbivore sampled, responsible for more than 90 percent of the observed damage. However, no significant relationship was found between insect activity and the chemical and physical composition of the leaves. Our findings suggest that, at least in this species, other chemical compounds or variables related to plant apparency and resource availability to herbivores (e.g. plant architecture) might play a more decisive role in the spatial variation of folivory than the nutritional and defensive traits that were analyzed.Keywords: cerrado, Didymopanax vinosum, folivory, herbivory, plant defenses. RESUMO Folivoria por insetos em Didymopanax vinosum (Apiaceae) em um mosaico de vegetação no cerrado brasileiroA susceptibilidade de Didymopanax vinosum (Apiaceae) a insetos herbívoros foi investigada em três localidades de um mosaico de cerrado -composto de campo cerrado, cerrado sensu stricto e cerradão -localizado no Cerrado Pé-de-Gigante, Santa Rita do Passa Quatro, SP, Brasil. Nosso objetivo foi também relacionar a folivoria com a composição e abundância da fauna de insetos herbívoros, e com várias características nutritivas e defensivas da planta (conteúdo foliar de água, nitrogênio, celulose, lignina, taninos e dureza foliar). Para tanto, coletamos mensalmente os insetos associados a D. vinosum e a cada três meses medimos as injúrias foliares. De modo geral, a herbivoria anual variou entre as localidades. Os maiores valores foram encontrados em plantas da localidade 1 e localidade 3: 7,33 e 8,5 por cento, aproximadamente, contra apenas 1,32 por cento na localidade 2. Esses níveis são resultado da maior abundância, nas localidades 1 e 3, do trips Liothrips didymopanacis (Phlaeothripidae), o principal herbívoro amostrado, responsável por mais de 90% das injúrias observadas. Entretanto, não se encontrou relação entre a atividade desses insetos e a composição química e física das folhas. Nossos resultados indicam que, ao menos para esta espécie, outros compostos químico...

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Insect folivory in Didymopanax vinosum (Apiaceae) in a vegetation mosaic of Brazilian cerrado

Varanda

Pais

2006

Braz. J. Biol.

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“…Metabolites from the wood of E. nitens therefore fall within this grouping, as has been found for the Myrtaceae family in general (Haslam, 1989). The range of closely related hydrolysable tannins and isomers found in E. nitens wood is a common occurrence and may prove advantageous for defence (Zucker, 1983). For example, tannin-protein binding may be an important mechanism to halt fungal metabolism, and a range of tannin structures may promote a variety of specific tannin-protein interactions.…”

Section: Tannin Levels and Biological Significancementioning

confidence: 99%

Identification of hydrolysable tannins in the reaction zone of Eucalyptus nitens wood by high performance liquid chromatography–electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry

Barry

Davies

Mohammed

2001

Phytochemical Analysis

102

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“…Tannins occur in three major terrestrial ecosystem pools, including living plant matter, litter, and the soil. The widespread occurrence and abundance suggest that tannins play an important role in plant function and evolution, because they are complex and energetically costly molecules to synthesize (Cates and Rhoades 1977;Zucker 1983). In addition to herbivore defense, tannins play an important role in a number of ecological processes, including litter decomposition, nutrient cycling, nitrogen sequestration, microbial activity, humic acid formation, metal complexation, and pedogenesis (Kraus et al 2003;Shao et al 2008aShao et al , b, 2009.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of fertilization and drought stress on tannin biosynthesis of Casuarina equisetifolia seedlings branchlets

Zhang

Shao

Ye³

et al. 2012

Acta Physiol Plant

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Nutrient, water, and their interactions influence the allocation of investment by plants to resistance and tolerance traits. We used a completely crossed randomizedblock design experiment to examine the independent and interactive effects of nutrients and water availability on tannin production of C. equisetifolia seedlings. The results showed that nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer have significant effects on total phenolics (TP) and extractable condensed tannins (ECT) concentrations of branchlets. TP and ECT concentrations decreased with fertilizer addition and increased in arid condition. This pattern lends to support source-sink hypothesis such as the carbon-nutrient balance (CNB) hypothesis and the growth-differentiation balance (GDB) hypothesis. Soluble sugars or starch concentrations were both inversely related to TP concentrations. However, there was no significant correlation between them and ECT concentrations. In addition, chlorophyll concentration had a positive linear correlation with TP and no significant correlation with ECT. On the contrary, chlorophyll a/b ratios were negatively correlated with TP and positively correlated with ECT. The discrepancy of relationship between carbohydrates and TP or ECT showed that the biosynthetic routes of different tannins were different. In this study, no significant correlation between TP and N, or ECT and N, did not support protein competition model (PCM). TP:N and ECT:N ratios were higher in nutrient deficiency and arid conditions, which were one of the important nutrient conservation strategies for C. equisetifolia.

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Tannins: Does Structure Determine Function? An Ecological Perspective

Cited by 482 publications

References 40 publications

Insect folivory in Didymopanax vinosum (Apiaceae) in a vegetation mosaic of Brazilian cerrado

Insect folivory in Didymopanax vinosum (Apiaceae) in a vegetation mosaic of Brazilian cerrado

Identification of hydrolysable tannins in the reaction zone of Eucalyptus nitens wood by high performance liquid chromatography–electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry

Effects of fertilization and drought stress on tannin biosynthesis of Casuarina equisetifolia seedlings branchlets

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