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A Role for Isothiocyanates in Plant Resistance Against the Specialist Herbivore Pieris rapae

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Abstract

We experimentally reanalyzed the classic interaction between Pieris rapae, a specialist lepidopteran herbivore, and isothiocyanates (mustard oils) that are characteristic phytochemicals of the Brassicaceae. Previous investigations have suggested that P. rapae is unaffected by isothiocyanates. Using whole plants, root extracts, and a microencapsulated formulation of allyl isothiocyanate, we now show that isothiocyanates reduce herbivore survival and growth, and increase development time, each in a dose-dependent manner. Neither the substrate allyl glucosinolate, nor myrosinase, the enzyme that results in the breakdown of glucosinolates, negatively affected P. rapae. Thus, we present strong evidence for a role for isothiocyanates in plant resistance against the specialist herbivore P. rapae.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Botany, University of Toronto, 25 Willcocks Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 3B2, Canada

    Anurag A. Agrawal & Nile S. Kurashige

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  1. Anurag A. Agrawal
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  2. Nile S. Kurashige
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Correspondence to Anurag A. Agrawal.

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Agrawal, A.A., Kurashige, N.S. A Role for Isothiocyanates in Plant Resistance Against the Specialist Herbivore Pieris rapae . J Chem Ecol 29, 1403–1415 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1024265420375

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