Herbivory and Attenuated UV Radiation Affect Volatile Emissions of the Invasive Weed <i>Calluna vulgaris</i>

<i>Calluna vulgaris</i> (heather) is an aggressive invasive weed on the Central Plateau, North Is., New Zealand (NZ), where it encounters different environmental factors compared to its native range in Europe, such as high ultraviolet radiation (UV) and a lack of specialist herbivores. T...

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Main Authors: Evans Effah, D. Paul Barrett, Paul G. Peterson, Jason J. Wargent, Murray A. Potter, Jarmo K. Holopainen, Andrea Clavijo McCormick
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2020-07-01
Series:Molecules
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/25/14/3200
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author Evans Effah
D. Paul Barrett
Paul G. Peterson
Jason J. Wargent
Murray A. Potter
Jarmo K. Holopainen
Andrea Clavijo McCormick
author_facet Evans Effah
D. Paul Barrett
Paul G. Peterson
Jason J. Wargent
Murray A. Potter
Jarmo K. Holopainen
Andrea Clavijo McCormick
author_sort Evans Effah
collection DOAJ
description <i>Calluna vulgaris</i> (heather) is an aggressive invasive weed on the Central Plateau, North Is., New Zealand (NZ), where it encounters different environmental factors compared to its native range in Europe, such as high ultraviolet radiation (UV) and a lack of specialist herbivores. The specialist herbivore <i>Lochmaea suturalis</i> (heather beetle) was introduced from the United Kingdom (UK) in 1996 as a biocontrol agent to manage this invasive weed. Like other plant invaders, a novel environment may be challenging for heather as it adjusts to its new conditions. This process of “adjustment” involves morphological and physiological changes often linked to phenotypic plasticity. The biochemical responses of exotic plants to environmental variables in their invaded range is poorly understood. The production and release of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) is essential to plant communication and highly susceptible to environmental change. This study therefore aimed to explore the VOC emissions of heather in response to different levels of UV exposure, and to feeding damage by <i>L. suturalis</i>. Using tunnel houses clad with UV-selective filters, we measured VOCs produced by heather under NZ ambient, 20% attenuated, and 95% attenuated solar UV treatments. We also compared VOC emissions in the field at adjacent sites where <i>L. suturalis</i> was present or absent. Volatiles produced by the same target heather plants were measured at four different times in the spring and summer of 2018–2019, reflecting variations in beetle’s abundance, feeding stage and plant phenology. Heather plants under 95% attenuated UV produced significantly higher amounts of (<i>E</i>)-β-farnesene, decanal, benzaldehyde, and benzeneacetaldehyde compared to 25% attenuated and ambient UV radiation. We also found significant differences in volatiles produced by heather plants in beetle-present versus beetle-absent sites on most sampling occasions. We also recorded a lower number of generalist herbivores on heather at sites where <i>L. suturalis</i> was present. Interactions between invasive plants, a novel environment, and the native communities they invade, are discussed.
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spelling doaj.art-7e3a487e7f0d48ce9aa667e0a1105d102023-12-03T11:59:44ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492020-07-012514320010.3390/molecules25143200Herbivory and Attenuated UV Radiation Affect Volatile Emissions of the Invasive Weed <i>Calluna vulgaris</i>Evans Effah0D. Paul Barrett1Paul G. Peterson2Jason J. Wargent3Murray A. Potter4Jarmo K. Holopainen5Andrea Clavijo McCormick6School of Agriculture and Environment, Massey University, Tennent Drive, Palmerston North 4474, New ZealandSchool of Agriculture and Environment, Massey University, Tennent Drive, Palmerston North 4474, New ZealandManaaki Whenua—Landcare Research, Riddet Road, Massey University, Palmerston North 4474, New ZealandSchool of Agriculture and Environment, Massey University, Tennent Drive, Palmerston North 4474, New ZealandSchool of Agriculture and Environment, Massey University, Tennent Drive, Palmerston North 4474, New ZealandDepartment of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Yliopistonranta 1 E, FI-70210 Kuopio, FinlandSchool of Agriculture and Environment, Massey University, Tennent Drive, Palmerston North 4474, New Zealand<i>Calluna vulgaris</i> (heather) is an aggressive invasive weed on the Central Plateau, North Is., New Zealand (NZ), where it encounters different environmental factors compared to its native range in Europe, such as high ultraviolet radiation (UV) and a lack of specialist herbivores. The specialist herbivore <i>Lochmaea suturalis</i> (heather beetle) was introduced from the United Kingdom (UK) in 1996 as a biocontrol agent to manage this invasive weed. Like other plant invaders, a novel environment may be challenging for heather as it adjusts to its new conditions. This process of “adjustment” involves morphological and physiological changes often linked to phenotypic plasticity. The biochemical responses of exotic plants to environmental variables in their invaded range is poorly understood. The production and release of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) is essential to plant communication and highly susceptible to environmental change. This study therefore aimed to explore the VOC emissions of heather in response to different levels of UV exposure, and to feeding damage by <i>L. suturalis</i>. Using tunnel houses clad with UV-selective filters, we measured VOCs produced by heather under NZ ambient, 20% attenuated, and 95% attenuated solar UV treatments. We also compared VOC emissions in the field at adjacent sites where <i>L. suturalis</i> was present or absent. Volatiles produced by the same target heather plants were measured at four different times in the spring and summer of 2018–2019, reflecting variations in beetle’s abundance, feeding stage and plant phenology. Heather plants under 95% attenuated UV produced significantly higher amounts of (<i>E</i>)-β-farnesene, decanal, benzaldehyde, and benzeneacetaldehyde compared to 25% attenuated and ambient UV radiation. We also found significant differences in volatiles produced by heather plants in beetle-present versus beetle-absent sites on most sampling occasions. We also recorded a lower number of generalist herbivores on heather at sites where <i>L. suturalis</i> was present. Interactions between invasive plants, a novel environment, and the native communities they invade, are discussed.https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/25/14/3200volatile organic compoundsplant volatilesplant secondary metabolitesplant ecophysiologyultraviolet radiationbiocontrol agents
spellingShingle Evans Effah
D. Paul Barrett
Paul G. Peterson
Jason J. Wargent
Murray A. Potter
Jarmo K. Holopainen
Andrea Clavijo McCormick
Herbivory and Attenuated UV Radiation Affect Volatile Emissions of the Invasive Weed <i>Calluna vulgaris</i>
Molecules
volatile organic compounds
plant volatiles
plant secondary metabolites
plant ecophysiology
ultraviolet radiation
biocontrol agents
title Herbivory and Attenuated UV Radiation Affect Volatile Emissions of the Invasive Weed <i>Calluna vulgaris</i>
title_full Herbivory and Attenuated UV Radiation Affect Volatile Emissions of the Invasive Weed <i>Calluna vulgaris</i>
title_fullStr Herbivory and Attenuated UV Radiation Affect Volatile Emissions of the Invasive Weed <i>Calluna vulgaris</i>
title_full_unstemmed Herbivory and Attenuated UV Radiation Affect Volatile Emissions of the Invasive Weed <i>Calluna vulgaris</i>
title_short Herbivory and Attenuated UV Radiation Affect Volatile Emissions of the Invasive Weed <i>Calluna vulgaris</i>
title_sort herbivory and attenuated uv radiation affect volatile emissions of the invasive weed i calluna vulgaris i
topic volatile organic compounds
plant volatiles
plant secondary metabolites
plant ecophysiology
ultraviolet radiation
biocontrol agents
url https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/25/14/3200
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