The role of sulphur compounds for breeding success of Ips typographus L. (Col., Scolytidae) on Norway Spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.)

Abstract

Bark beetles, especially Ips typographus L. represent a severe biotic threat for spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.) at low altitudes in Europe. We compared sulphur (total S, SO42−, glutathione, cysteine, methionine), nitrogen (total N, NO3−, total protein, free amino acids), carbon, total phosphorus and PO43−, tree vigour index (TVI) and water content of the phloem after felling, and their dependent changes (tdc) with the breeding success of I. typographus. Twenty trees were classified according to age (34/90 years) and crown density (high/intermediate/low). Water content was higher in young trees than in old trees, higher in the crown than at breast height, and decreased significantly within the 8‐week study period. In old trees, breeding success, length of mother galleries and SO42− were significantly higher, while total protein, NO3− and water content were significantly lower than in young trees. Trees with intermediate crown density provided the best breeding success for I. typographus and had significantly higher arginine content and C/N ratio as well as low amounts of phosphate and glutamine. During the period of bark beetle breeding, total sulphur, glutathione, protein, NO3−, aspartate, glutamine, glutamate, arginine and γ‐aminobutyrate decreased significantly. The results support previous investigations that I. typographus develops best in physiologically weakened trees.

Bacteria Belonging to Pseudomonas typographi sp. nov. from the Bark Beetle Ips typographus Have Genomic Potential to Aid in the Host Ecology

“…Besides that, tree’s phloem, the main feed source for the beetle, has been described as a sugar-rich source but poor in phosphorus, nitrogen, and vitamins, among other relevant nutrients [ 7 , 8 , 9 ], and it has been suggested that the provision of these scarce substances could be a role of the beetle microbiota [ 1 ]. Phosphorus and nitrogen are essential nutrients for live development.…”

Whole Plant Regulation of Sulfur Nutrition of Deciduous Trees‐Influences of the Environment

“…GSH content was high in phloem tissues from spruce bark showing low breeding success of bark beetles. Low GSH contents were found in phloem tissues of trees with high insect breeding success (Mattanovich et al, 2001). However, these data do not distinguish between the predisposition of spruce and the consequence of insect attack.…”

“…ships. Only one study with trees has been published which investigated the relationship between S and insect attack (Mattanovich et al, 2001). GSH content was high in phloem tissues from spruce bark showing low breeding success of bark beetles.…”

Application of salicylic acid induces antioxidant defense responses in the phloem of Picea abies and inhibits colonization by Ips typographus

“…Highly reduced sulfur contents in acorns are translated directly to a high cysteine status of feeding mites . Furthermore, it has been hypothesized that reduced sulfur compounds in the bark are a determinant for the breeding success of bark beetles, but a clear connection has not been established, as yet (Mattanovich et al, 2001).…”

“…In addition to being the most abundant water-soluble antioxidant in plant cells (Smirnoff and Wheeler, 2000), ascorbate is also required for the re-conversion of SA • to SA yielding monodehydroascorbate, since ascorbate is highly reactive against phenoxyl radicals generated by peroxidases during oxidative stress (Kawano and Muto, 2000). Until now only a few investigations have dealt with antioxidative systems in bark beetle affected Norway spruce (Mattanovich et al, 2001;Pučko et al, 2005), although antioxidative defence systems have often been used as stress indicators for the diagnosis of disturbances in forest trees (Tausz et al, , 2004Tausz, 2007;Herbinger et al, 2005;Hofer et al, 2008). In previous work (Urbanek Krajnc, 2009), a temporal analysis of antioxidant contents in the phloem tissue of Norway spruce was performed when the bark was exposed to increasing levels of bark beetle attack.…”