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Application of methyl jasmonate to grey willow (Salix cinerea) attracts insectivorous birds in nature

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Abstract

It has been suggested that insectivorous birds may be guided by herbivore-induced plant volatiles (HIPVs) to herbivore-rich trees with herbivorous damage. The HIPV production in plants is partly mediated by jasmonic acid signalling pathway. Methyl jasmonate (MeJA) was proved to be a suitable agent for induction of HIPVs similar to those induced by herbivorous insects in many plant species. We studied the effects of methyl jasmonate on volatile emission and natural enemy attraction using mature grey willow (Salix cinerea) under natural conditions in Czech Republic. We treated 12 experimental shrubs with 30 mM MeJA and completed the experiment with 12 control shrubs. We monitored attacks by natural predators with artificial plasticine caterpillars which were checked daily. Birds most often pecked the caterpillars exposed on MeJA-treated shrubs and this attractiveness differed significantly from control. Attractiveness of MeJA-treated shrubs did not differ significantly from control shrubs for arthropod predators. Spraying MeJA on grey willows resulted in significantly higher production of α-pinene, β-pinene, 3-carene, limonene and β-ocimene. There was a marginally significant positive correlation between the predation rate by birds and relative change in α-pinene emissions.

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Acknowledgements

This study was funded by The Czech Science Foundation project No. 14-32024P. We are thankful to our colleagues Legi Sam and Philip Butterill for English edits.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biology Centre CAS, Institute of Entomology, Branisovska 31, 370 05, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic

    Anna Mrazova & Katerina Sam

  2. Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branisovska 1760, 370 05, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic

    Anna Mrazova & Katerina Sam

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  1. Anna Mrazova
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  2. Katerina Sam
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Correspondence to Katerina Sam.

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Handling Editor: Jarmo Holopainen.

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Mrazova, A., Sam, K. Application of methyl jasmonate to grey willow (Salix cinerea) attracts insectivorous birds in nature. Arthropod-Plant Interactions 12, 1–8 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11829-017-9558-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11829-017-9558-9

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