Leaf surface structure shapes herbivore preference and predation efficiency: leaf-mediated biocontrol in a soybean system

IF 4.4 1区农林科学 Q1 ENTOMOLOGY

Journal of Pest Science Pub Date : 2026-06-06 DOI:10.1007/s10340-026-02058-6

Wei-Jiun Lin, Jo-Shih Chiu, Chuan-Kai Ho

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Plant-herbivore-predator interactions shape community structure and ecosystem services (e.g., biocontrol). Herbivores often prefer the lower leaf side to avoid predators and environmental stress, but the mechanisms remain unclear due to confounding factors such as leaf orientation (upper vs. lower side) and surface structure (abaxial vs. adaxial surface). Here, we examined (1) herbivore preference for leaf orientation and surface structure (herbivory preference experiment), (2) its effect on predator–prey interactions (predation efficiency experiment), and (3) how leaf-mediated predation affects herbivore population dynamics and biocontrol (population growth modeling experiment). Using a soybean system consisting of soybean (Glycine max), soybean aphid (Aphis glycines), and six-spotted zigzag ladybeetle (Cheilomenes sexmaculata), we separated the effects of leaf orientation and surface structure with artificial leaves. We also experimentally reduced trichome density to evaluate its effect on predation rates and incorporated empirical data into population models. The results showed: (1) Aphid preference was primarily driven by leaf surface microstructure, particularly trichome density, rather than leaf orientation, with aphids favoring abaxial over adaxial surfaces (65.3% vs. 23.7%), consistent with higher trichome density on abaxial surfaces (8.46 vs. 2.35/mm²). (2) Ladybeetle predation on aphids was 84.5% higher on adaxial surfaces, indicating that dense trichomes reduce predation rates. (3) Population growth models further showed that adaxial surface (sparse trichomes) enhanced aphid suppression by ladybeetles, highlighting the long-term influence of leaf-mediated predation on pest dynamics. Overall, this study demonstrates that plant structural traits mediate plant-herbivore-predator interactions and underscores the importance of integrating plant structure into crop breeding and pest management.

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叶片表面结构决定草食动物偏好和捕食效率：大豆系统中叶片介导的生物防治

植物-草食-捕食者的相互作用塑造了群落结构和生态系统服务（如生物防治）。草食动物为了躲避捕食者和环境胁迫，往往更倾向于叶的下侧，但由于叶片的取向（上侧vs下侧）和表面结构（背面vs正面）等混杂因素，其机制尚不清楚。在此，我们研究了(1)草食动物对叶片取向和表面结构的偏好（食草偏好实验），(2)其对捕食者-猎物相互作用的影响（捕食效率实验），以及(3)叶片介导的捕食如何影响草食动物种群动态和生物控制（种群增长模型实验）。利用大豆（Glycine max）、大豆蚜虫（Aphis glycines）和六斑之字形瓢虫（Cheilomenes sexmaculata）组成的大豆体系，利用人工叶片分离叶片取向和表面结构的影响。我们还通过实验降低毛状体密度来评估其对捕食率的影响，并将经验数据纳入种群模型。结果表明：(1)蚜虫的偏好主要受叶片表面微观结构，尤其是毛状体密度的影响，而不是受叶片取向的影响，蚜虫偏爱叶片背面（65.3%比23.7%），与叶片背面毛状体密度较高（8.46比2.35/mm2）一致。(2)瓢虫对蚜虫正面的捕食率比正面高84.5%，表明浓密的毛状体降低了蚜虫的捕食率。(3)种群增长模型进一步表明，正面（稀疏的毛状体）增强了瓢虫对蚜虫的抑制作用，突出了叶片介导的捕食对害虫动态的长期影响。总之，本研究表明植物结构性状介导了植物-草食-捕食相互作用，并强调了将植物结构整合到作物育种和病虫害管理中的重要性。

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来源期刊

Journal of Pest Science 生物-昆虫学

CiteScore

10.40

自引率

8.30%

发文量

114

审稿时长

6-12 weeks

期刊介绍： Journal of Pest Science publishes high-quality papers on all aspects of pest science in agriculture, horticulture (including viticulture), forestry, urban pests, and stored products research, including health and safety issues. Journal of Pest Science reports on advances in control of pests and animal vectors of diseases, the biology, ethology and ecology of pests and their antagonists, and the use of other beneficial organisms in pest control. The journal covers all noxious or damaging groups of animals, including arthropods, nematodes, molluscs, and vertebrates. Journal of Pest Science devotes special attention to emerging and innovative pest control strategies, including the side effects of such approaches on non-target organisms, for example natural enemies and pollinators, and the implementation of these strategies in integrated pest management. Journal of Pest Science also publishes papers on the management of agro- and forest ecosystems where this is relevant to pest control. Papers on important methodological developments relevant for pest control will be considered as well.