Influence of mineral fertilization on food quality of oak leaves and utilization efficiency of food components by the gypsy moth
| Autor: | M. Bakowski, Marian J. Giertych, Roma Zytkowiak, Piotr Karolewski, J Grzebyta |
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| Rok vydání: | 2005 |
| Předmět: |
biology
fungi engineering.material biology.organism_classification Feed conversion ratio Quercus robur chemistry.chemical_compound Horticulture Nutrient Human fertilization chemistry Insect Science Lymantria dispar Botany engineering Ammonium Fertilizer Food quality Ecology Evolution Behavior and Systematics |
| Zdroj: | Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata. 117:59-69 |
| ISSN: | 1570-7458 0013-8703 |
| DOI: | 10.1111/j.1570-7458.2005.00332.x |
| Popis: | Host plant quality is a key determinant of the performance of larvae of herbivorous insects. The effects of nitrogen and dolomite fertilization on the quality of pedunculate oak, Quercus robur L. (Fagaceae) foliage, as a food for gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar L. (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae) larvae were evaluated. The seedlings were divided into five fertilization treatments (nonfertilized control, commercial nutrient solution, commercial nutrient solution + (NH 4 ) 2 SO 4 , commercial nutrient solution + KNO 3 , and commercial nutrient solution + dolomite). The experiment was performed in Petri dishes, in each of which a fresh leaf from one treatment and one larva were placed. Insect performance assays, survival, development, growth, and food utilization were evaluated for each fertilization treatment. Leaf samples were assayed for nitrogen and other main nutrients, soluble carbohydrates, and phenolic compounds. The fertilizer treatment with added ammonium improved gypsy moth performance, and the amount of food eaten was the lowest in this treatment. Utilization of elements from the food depended on the element and on the fertilization treatment. The insect bodies retained 50-64% of the nitrogen and 55-79% of the phosphorus. The results show that the efficiency of conversion of ingested food (ECI) and the efficiency of conversion of digested food (ECD) differ among the fertilization treatments, but it is not possible to define a general trend. Our results suggest that fertilization (especially ammonium) of host plants can increase herbivore performance, decrease the amount of food needed, and increase its utilization efficiency. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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