The Role of Trichomes in Plant Defense

Levin, Donald A.

doi:10.1086/407484

Cited by 883 publications

(584 citation statements)

References 48 publications

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“…For example, trichomes can reduce transpiration by reflecting light and by modifying the leaf boundary area conductance (Ehleringer 1984;Larcher 2001), they can increase tolerance to freezing, they accumulate and secrete excess salt (Gravano et al 1998;Werker 2000), and they can facilitate wind dispersal of seed (Butterworth et al 2009). Leaf trichomes have been shown to reduce insect herbivory in a number of species (Levin 1973;Marquis 1992;Agren and Schemske 1993;Mauricio 1998;van Dam and Hare 1998;Romeis et al 1999;Malakar and Tingey 2000;Handley et al 2005;Medeiros and Moreira 2005). They interfere with insect movement and feeding and often secrete glandular fluids that may trap, poison, or repel herbivores (Levin 1973;Elle and Hare 2000).…”

Section: Traits Study Species and Populationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Leaf trichomes have been shown to reduce insect herbivory in a number of species (Levin 1973;Marquis 1992;Agren and Schemske 1993;Mauricio 1998;van Dam and Hare 1998;Romeis et al 1999;Malakar and Tingey 2000;Handley et al 2005;Medeiros and Moreira 2005). They interfere with insect movement and feeding and often secrete glandular fluids that may trap, poison, or repel herbivores (Levin 1973;Elle and Hare 2000).…”

Section: Traits Study Species and Populationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Genetics of Phenotypic Plasticity in Plant Defense: Trichome Production inMimulus guttatus

Holeski

Chase‐Alone

Kelly

2010

The American Naturalist

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Insect herbivory is a major driving force of plant evolution. Phenotypic plasticity and developmental variation provide a means for plants to cope with variable herbivory. We characterized the genetics of developmental variation and phenotypic plasticity in trichome density, a putative defensive trait of Mimulus guttatus (yellow monkeyflower). Our results are evaluated in relation to the optimal defense theory, which provides testable predictions for plastic and developmental patterns in defense traits. We found that both developmental stage and simulated insect damage affected trichome production, but in different ways. Plants were more likely to produce at least some trichomes on later leaves than on earlier leaves, regardless of damage. Damage did not affect the average probability of producing trichomes, but it did increase the density of hairs on trichome-positive plants. We mapped trichome quantitative trait loci (QTL) by selectively genotyping a large panel of recombinant inbred lines derived from two highly divergent populations. Several highly pleiotropic QTL influenced multiple aspects of the trichome phenotype (constitutive, developmental, and/or plastic responses). Only one of the QTL influenced trichome induction following damage. In a result that is consistent with a central prediction of optimal defense theory, the high allele at this location was from the ancestral population with low constitutive trichome production.

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Section: Traits Study Species and Populationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Traits Study Species and Populationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Genetics of Phenotypic Plasticity in Plant Defense: Trichome Production inMimulus guttatus

Holeski

Chase‐Alone

Kelly

2010

The American Naturalist

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“…They may also themselves be multicellular (Esau, 1965). Trichomes occur in almost every plant family (Johnson, 1975) and commonly have a defensive value (Levin, 1973) because they impede herbivores mechanically (including making attachment difficult) or irritate them.…”

Section: Mechanical Defencesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biotic and abiotic consequences of differences in leaf structure

1999

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Both within and between species, leaves of plants display wide ranges in structural features. These features include : gross investments of carbon and nitrogen substrates (e.g. leaf mass per unit area) ; stomatal density, distribution between adaxial and abaxial surfaces, and aperture ; internal and external optical scattering structures ; defensive structures, such as trichomes and spines ; and defensive compounds, including UV screens, antifeedants, toxins, and silica abrasives. I offer a synthesis of selected publications, including some of my own. A unifying theme is the adaptive value of expressing certain structural features, posed as metabolic costs and benefits, for (1) competitive acquisition and use of abiotic resources (such as water, light and nitrogen) and (2) regulation of biotic interactions, particularly fungal attack and herbivory. Both acclimatory responses in one plant and adaptations over evolutionary time scales are covered where possible. The ubiquity of trade-offs in function is a recurrent theme ; this helps to explain diversity in solutions to the same environmental challenges but poses problems for investigators to uncover numerous important trade-offs. I offer some suggestions for research, such as on the need for models that integrate biotic and abiotic effects (these must be highly focused), and some speculations, such as on the intensity of selection pressures for these structures.

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“…C. insignis leaves have the highest trichome density and are noticeably more asperous than those of its congeners. Although trichomes are an eVective defence against phytophagous insects (Levin 1973), it is unclear whether they deter browsing herbivores.…”

Section: Defence Traits Of Bcnm Cecropiamentioning

confidence: 99%

Habitat partitioning among neotropical pioneers: a consequence of differential susceptibility to browsing herbivores?

et al. 2009

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Four species of fast-growing pioneer tree species in the genus Cecropia exist in the forests in central Panama. Cecropia insignis is dominant in old-growth forests but absent from nearby secondary forests; C. obtusifolia, and C. peltata are abundant in secondary forests but rare in old-growth forest, and C. longipes is uncommon in both. To determine whether Cecropia habitat associations are a consequence of local dispersal or diVerences in recruitment success, we grew seedlings of these species in common gardens in large treefall gaps in secondary and old-growth forest. In contrast to the observed adult distribution, only C. insignis grew signiWcantly over 16 months in secondary forests; remaining species were heavily browsed by herbivores. C. insignis also grew and survived best in old-growth forest. DiVerences in susceptibility to herbivory did not result from an ant defence mutualism; none of the plants were colonised by ants during the experiment. To test whether C. insignis, the species least susceptible to herbivory, trades oV investment in growth in favour of defence, we also grew the four Cecropia species in a screened growing house under light conditions comparable to large forest gaps. Contrary to expectation, species growth rates were similar; only C. peltata grew signiWcantly faster than C. insignis. These results suggest that (1) conditions in »40-year-old secondary forests no longer support the recruitment of Cecropia species, which are canopy dominants there; and (2) among congeners, diVerences in plant traits with little apparent cost to growth can have large impacts on recruitment by aVecting palatability to herbivores.

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The Role of Trichomes in Plant Defense

Cited by 883 publications

References 48 publications

The Genetics of Phenotypic Plasticity in Plant Defense: Trichome Production inMimulus guttatus

The Genetics of Phenotypic Plasticity in Plant Defense: Trichome Production inMimulus guttatus

Biotic and abiotic consequences of differences in leaf structure

Habitat partitioning among neotropical pioneers: a consequence of differential susceptibility to browsing herbivores?

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