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Branch-Localized Induction Promotes Efficacy of Volatile Defences and Herbivore Predation in Trees

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Abstract

Induction of plant defences can show various levels of localization, which can optimize their efficiency. Locally induced responses may be particularly important in large plants, such as trees, that show high variability in traits and herbivory rates across their canopies. We studied the branch-localized induction of polyphenols, volatiles (VOCs), and changes in leaf protein content in Carpinus betulus L., Quercus robur L., and Tilia cordata L. in a common garden experiment. To induce the trees, we treated ten individuals per species on one branch with methyl jasmonate. Five other individuals per species served as controls. We measured the traits in the treated branches, in control branches on treated trees, and in control trees. Additionally, we ran predation assays and caterpillar food-choice trials to assess the effects of our treatment on other trophic levels. Induced VOCs included mainly mono- and sesquiterpenes. Their production was strongly localized to the treated branches in all three tree species studied. Treated trees showed more predation events than control trees. The polyphenol levels and total protein content showed a limited response to the treatment. Yet, winter moth caterpillars preferred leaves from control branches over leaves from treated branches within C. betulus individuals and leaves from control Q. robur individuals over leaves from treated Q. robur individuals. Our results suggest that there is a significant level of localization in induction of VOCs and probably also in unknown traits with direct effects on herbivores. Such localization allows trees to upregulate defences wherever and whenever they are needed.

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Data Availability

The data used in this study are accessible at iDiv Data Repository: https://idata.idiv.de/ddm/Data/ShowData/1874. DOI: https://doi.org/10.25829/idiv.1874-3-3124.

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Acknowledgements

We acknowledge EcoMetEoR – Ecometabolomics Platform for Ecology & Biodiversity Research that supported the VOC analysis. We thank Daniel Uhlig for his help with treating the trees with insecticides and their general maintenance and MIE group members for their support with the data collection. MV acknowledges funding by Alexander von Humboldt Foundation and the Federal Ministry for Education and Research Ref.3.3-CZE-1192673-HFST-P and Grant Agency of the Czech Republic 20-10543Y. AW, HU, CW and NMvD. thank the German Research Foundation for funding the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig (DFG– FZT 118, 202548816). We thank Bettina Ohse, Leuphana University, Germany, for setting up the experimental plot used in this study and Data & Code Unit (iBID) for help with uploading our data to iDiv Data Repository. Finally, we thank Jing Leong for language corrections and helpful comments on the manuscript.

Funding

Alexander von Humboldt Foundation and the Federal Ministry for Education and Research (Ref.3.3-CZE-1192673-HFST-P), Grant Agency of the Czech Republic (20-10543Y), German Research Foundation for funding the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig (DFG– FZT 118, 202548816).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Puschstrasse 4, 04103, Leipzig, Germany

    Martin Volf, Alexander Weinhold, Henriette Uthe, Ronny Richter, Christian Wirth & Nicole M. van Dam

  2. Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Entomology, Branisovska 31, 37005, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic

    Martin Volf, Carlo L. Seifert & Tereza Holicová

  3. Institute of Biodiversity, University of Jena, Dornburger Str. 159, 07743, Jena, Germany

    Alexander Weinhold, Henriette Uthe & Nicole M. van Dam

  4. Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branisovska 31, 37005, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic

    Carlo L. Seifert & Tereza Holicová

  5. Natural Chemistry Research Group, Department of Chemistry, University of Turku, FI-20500, Turku, Finland

    Erika Alander & Juha-Pekka Salminen

  6. Institute for Biology, University of Leipzig, Johannisallee 21-23, 04103, Leipzig, Germany

    Ronny Richter & Christian Wirth

  7. Geoinformatics and Remote Sensing, Institute for Geography, Leipzig University, Johannisallee 19a, 04103, Leipzig, Germany

    Ronny Richter

  8. Max-Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry, 07745, Jena, Germany

    Christian Wirth

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  1. Martin Volf
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  2. Alexander Weinhold
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  3. Carlo L. Seifert
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  10. Nicole M. van Dam
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Contributions

MV, AW, RR, CW, and NMvD designed the experimental approach; MV, CLS, and TH collected the data; MV, AW, HU, EA, J-P S conducted the chemical analysis, MV conducted the statistical analysis and wrote the first draft of the manuscript; all authors critically contributed to the final draft.

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Correspondence to Martin Volf.

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Volf, M., Weinhold, A., Seifert, C.L. et al. Branch-Localized Induction Promotes Efficacy of Volatile Defences and Herbivore Predation in Trees. J Chem Ecol 47, 99–111 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10886-020-01232-z

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