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Suitability of Arabidopsis thaliana as a model for host plant-Plutella xylostella-Cotesia plutellae interactions

Suitability of Arabidopsis thaliana as a model for host plant-Plutella xylostella-Cotesia plutellae interactions
Suitability of Arabidopsis thaliana as a model for host plant-Plutella xylostella-Cotesia plutellae interactions
Successful pest management is often hindered by the inherent complexity of the interactions of a pest with its environment. The use of genetically characterized model plants can allow investigation of chosen aspects of these interactions by limiting the number of variables during experimentation. However, it is important to study the generic nature of these model systems if the data generated are to be assessed in a wider context, for instance, with those systems of commercial significance. This study assesses the suitability of Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. (Brassicaceae) as a model host plant to investigate plant-herbivore-natural enemy interactions, with Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae), the diamondback moth, and Cotesia plutellae (Kurdjumov) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), a parasitoid of P. xylostella. The growth and development of P. xylostella and C. plutellae on an A. thaliana host plant (Columbia type) were compared to that on Brassica rapa var. pekinensis (L.) (Brassicaceae), a host crop that is widely cultivated and also commonly used as a laboratory host for P. xylostella rearing. The second part of the study investigated the potential effect of the different A. thaliana background lines, Columbia and Landsberg (used in wider scientific studies), on growth and development of P. xylostella and C. plutellae. Plutella xylostella life history parameters were found generally to be similar between the host plants investigated. However, C. plutellae were more affected by the differences in host plant. Fewer adult parasitoids resulted from development on A. thaliana compared to B. rapa, and those that did emerge were significantly smaller. Adult male C. plutellae developing on Columbia were also significantly smaller than those on Landsberg A. thaliana.
tritrophic, herbivore, parasitoid, natural enemy, fitness, columbia, landsberg, ecotype, background, hymenoptera, braconidae, lepidoptera, plutellidae
0013-8703
17-26
Barker, J.E.
3b8816ba-b5ec-41a0-bf04-92c48199a06b
Poppy, G.M.
e18524cf-10ae-4ab4-b50c-e73e7d841389
Payne, C.C.
57e5d768-2434-47a5-a813-0eef84cf16df
Barker, J.E.
3b8816ba-b5ec-41a0-bf04-92c48199a06b
Poppy, G.M.
e18524cf-10ae-4ab4-b50c-e73e7d841389
Payne, C.C.
57e5d768-2434-47a5-a813-0eef84cf16df

Barker, J.E., Poppy, G.M. and Payne, C.C. (2007) Suitability of Arabidopsis thaliana as a model for host plant-Plutella xylostella-Cotesia plutellae interactions. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata, 122 (1), 17-26. (doi:10.1111/j.1570-7458.2006.00459.x).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Successful pest management is often hindered by the inherent complexity of the interactions of a pest with its environment. The use of genetically characterized model plants can allow investigation of chosen aspects of these interactions by limiting the number of variables during experimentation. However, it is important to study the generic nature of these model systems if the data generated are to be assessed in a wider context, for instance, with those systems of commercial significance. This study assesses the suitability of Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. (Brassicaceae) as a model host plant to investigate plant-herbivore-natural enemy interactions, with Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae), the diamondback moth, and Cotesia plutellae (Kurdjumov) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), a parasitoid of P. xylostella. The growth and development of P. xylostella and C. plutellae on an A. thaliana host plant (Columbia type) were compared to that on Brassica rapa var. pekinensis (L.) (Brassicaceae), a host crop that is widely cultivated and also commonly used as a laboratory host for P. xylostella rearing. The second part of the study investigated the potential effect of the different A. thaliana background lines, Columbia and Landsberg (used in wider scientific studies), on growth and development of P. xylostella and C. plutellae. Plutella xylostella life history parameters were found generally to be similar between the host plants investigated. However, C. plutellae were more affected by the differences in host plant. Fewer adult parasitoids resulted from development on A. thaliana compared to B. rapa, and those that did emerge were significantly smaller. Adult male C. plutellae developing on Columbia were also significantly smaller than those on Landsberg A. thaliana.

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More information

Published date: 1 January 2007
Keywords: tritrophic, herbivore, parasitoid, natural enemy, fitness, columbia, landsberg, ecotype, background, hymenoptera, braconidae, lepidoptera, plutellidae

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 56342
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/56342
ISSN: 0013-8703
PURE UUID: 47c67ea8-2fd7-4e02-9f51-ebb1dda75ae6

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Date deposited: 08 Aug 2008
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 11:01

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Contributors

Author: J.E. Barker
Author: G.M. Poppy
Author: C.C. Payne

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