Arthropod-Plant Interactions最新文献

{"title":"APPLE-POPDYN: an individual-based model linking apple-tree productivity and leaf miner infestation dynamics","authors":"Felix Sauke,&nbsp;Katrin M. Meyer,&nbsp;Sylvain Pincebourde,&nbsp;Kerstin Wiegand","doi":"10.1007/s11829-026-10233-w","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11829-026-10233-w","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The extent of crop damage caused by insect pests is economically significant and largely determined by the host selection behavior of individual pest species. According to the plant vigor hypothesis, herbivorous insects prefer vital over stressed plant parts. However, the feedbacks between insect behavior, plant performance, and insect population dynamics remain poorly understood. We developed the individual-based model APPLE-POPDYN to explore how different insect oviposition strategies affect apple tree productivity and insect phenology—feedbacks that are challenging to disentangle with experimental studies alone. The model is based on the interaction between the spotted tentiform leaf miner (<i>Phyllonorycter blancardella</i>) and its host, the apple (<i>Malus domestica</i>). It allows for controlled modification of behavioral traits, thereby enabling a systematic investigation of these interactions. The model includes the generation of meteorological pseudo data, apple tree growth, leaf-level oviposition behavior, and insect population dynamics. APPLE-POPDYN distinguishes between “picky” insects that prefer vigorous leaves and “tolerant” insects that do not discriminate. Picky insects develop faster but spend more time searching for suitable leaves. As a result, they produce more generations per year but achieve lower population sizes and cause less overall damage than tolerant insects. Additionally, increasing infestation levels reduce leaf vigor, negatively feeding back on host attractiveness. Our findings suggest that adaptive insect behavior does not necessarily lead to higher population sizes and provide new insights into the ecological dynamics of plant–insect interactions.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8409,"journal":{"name":"Arthropod-Plant Interactions","volume":"20 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s11829-026-10233-w.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147441444","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A novel application of grey relational analysis in screening of advanced breeding lines for antixenosis of Spodoptera litura (Fabricius) infesting green gram","authors":"Prafull Sati,&nbsp;J. P. Purwar,&nbsp;Narne Kavya,&nbsp;Ritu Mishra,&nbsp;Dharanikota Lalithambica Devi,&nbsp;Aditya Pratap","doi":"10.1007/s11829-026-10231-y","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11829-026-10231-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Green gram (<i>Vigna radiata</i> (L.) R. Wilczek) is an important short-duration pulse crop valued for its high nutritional content and suitability to diverse agro-climatic conditions. However, its productivity is significantly threatened by insect pests, particularly the polyphagous defoliator <i>Spodoptera litura</i> (Fabricius). This noctuid pest causes extensive leaf damage, leading to substantial economic losses. Host plant resistance, governed by biophysical and biochemical traits, is a fundamental component of Integrated Pest Management (IPM). These traits influence pest behaviour by affecting host preference and insect survival, thereby shaping population dynamics. This study investigated the mechanisms of resistance, with a focus on antixenosis (non-preference), in green gram against <i>S. litura</i>. Seventy germplasm accessions, along with a standard check, were evaluated under both field and laboratory conditions. The results demonstrated that more than half of the tested germplasms exhibited lower pest preference compared to the check. Biophysical traits (Trichome density and leaf thickness) showed a positive correlation with pest preference whereas Biochemical traits (Total soluble sugars and catalase activity) exhibited a negative correlation with pest preference, while peroxidase activity played a significant defensive role. Identification of traits for host plant resistance is important for the searching the source of resistance. Multivariate statistical analysis may play an important role to assess the key parameters for host plant resistance. For this purpose, Grey Relational Analysis (GRA) has been used to identify the biophysical parameters for the antixenosis mechanism against <i>S. litura</i> infesting green gram. This analysis (Grey relational coefficients) revealed that, among these traits, Trichome density (0.719) and Peroxidase (0.599) were found to be the most significant variables associated antixenosis resistance mechanism against larva of <i>S. litura.</i> This study highlights the critical role of specific morphological and enzymatic traits in conferring resistance to <i>S. litura</i> in green gram. Furthermore, it establishes Grey Relational Analysis as an effective tool for pinpointing key resistance characteristics, thereby facilitating the selection and breeding of resistant varieties for sustainable crop protection.</p>","PeriodicalId":8409,"journal":{"name":"Arthropod-Plant Interactions","volume":"20 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147441551","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Transcriptomic analysis of digestive and detoxification enzyme genes in Agasicles hygrophila (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) under varied dietary conditions","authors":"Wenjie He,&nbsp;Shuang Zhan,&nbsp;Cenyue Li,&nbsp;Wenzhe Wang,&nbsp;Yuting Wu,&nbsp;Chun Yang,&nbsp;Lingling Gao,&nbsp;Ruiyan Ma,&nbsp;Yanqiong Guo","doi":"10.1007/s11829-026-10237-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11829-026-10237-6","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p><i>Agasicles hygrophila</i> is a monophagous beetle that exclusively feeds on the host plant <i>Alternanthera philoxeroides</i>. It cannot complete its life cycle on non-target plants, so it is an effective biological control agent. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying its host specificity remain unclear due to limited transcriptomic resources. Here, we employed the Illumina HiSeq™ 2000 platform to generate transcriptomic databases for adult <i>A. hygrophila</i> under three conditions: feeding on the host plant, non-target plant <i>Beta vulgaris</i> var. <i>cicla</i> and starvation as control. We assembled 46,151 unigenes (N50 = 1312 bp). BLAST annotation against the Nr database identified <i>Tribolium castaneum</i> Herbst as the top hit. We identified 221 digestive enzyme genes (63 carbohydrases, 72 lipases, 86 trypsins) and 138 detoxification enzymes (69 P450s, 23 GSTs, 46 CCEs). KEGG analysis showed detoxification enzymes were enriched in hormone biosynthesis and metabolism. Comparative analysis of DEGs among the three treatment groups, <i>A. hygrophila</i> feeding on the host plant, exhibited a higher number of DEGs (1525 vs. 733), and higher digestive/detoxification enzyme abundances than the non-target plant. Notably, carbohydrases/lipases showed more downregulated genes, while proteases exhibited the opposite trend; P450s were the most differentially expressed detoxification enzymes. qRT-PCR validated 26 digestive and 21 detoxification enzyme DEGs with complete sequences. This study provides a comprehensive transcriptomic resource and offers mechanistic insight into the metabolic basis of monophagy in this biocontrol agent.</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":8409,"journal":{"name":"Arthropod-Plant Interactions","volume":"20 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147441552","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Feeding and fecundity of leaf beetle Monolepta hieroglyphica on different tissues of corn and three weed plants","authors":"Yu-Wei Wu,&nbsp;Lin-Hao Zheng,&nbsp;Jia-Liang Xu,&nbsp;Jing-Wen Wang,&nbsp;De-Wei Meng,&nbsp;Fei-Wu Li,&nbsp;Wen-Jing Xu","doi":"10.1007/s11829-026-10225-w","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11829-026-10225-w","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The double-spotted leaf beetle (DLB), <i>Monolepta hieroglyphica</i> (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), is a polyphagous pest that causes considerable damage to corn in China. However, there is limited knowledge regarding the influence of host plants on the biology of this beetle. This study assessed the feeding of DLB on three corn tissues and three weed species, as well as the impact of host plants/tissues on DLB fecundity. The Feeding rate of DLB was significantly affected by interaction between host plants/tissues and sex, indicating sex-specific patterns of feeding choice. The feeding levels of DLB adults were affected only by host plants/tissues, following the order: common knotgrass &gt; corn silk &gt; corn leaf &gt; Asian copperleaf &gt; white goosefoot &gt; corn kernel. The fecundity of single female adults fed on common knotgrass was the highest (44.70 ± 11.47 eggs), whereas that fed on corn leaf was the lowest (2.00 ± 0.88 eggs). These results underscore the significance of weeds as alternative DLB hosts in corn agroecosystems, improving our understanding of DLB biology and offering valuable insights for establishing and providing an integrated pest management (IPM) program.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8409,"journal":{"name":"Arthropod-Plant Interactions","volume":"20 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s11829-026-10225-w.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147441446","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Association between chronic root herbivory and changes in plant biomass, phytohormone levels, and nutrient content in rice","authors":"James M. Villegas,&nbsp;Blake E. Wilson,&nbsp;Michael J. Stout","doi":"10.1007/s11829-026-10236-7","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11829-026-10236-7","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Root herbivory by insects can significantly impact plant performance and yield, particularly in crop production. Our understanding of the impact of chronic root herbivory by the rice water weevil, <i>Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus</i>, remains limited. Using an insecticidal seed treatment to manipulate levels of herbivory in small plots under natural field conditions, this study investigated the differences in rice water weevil infestation, plant growth, nutrient uptake, and phytohormone production in two rice cultivars. Two separate trials were established at different planting dates. For each trial, field plots were laid out following a randomized block design with six blocks and each block contained a factorial arrangement of cultivar (a hybrid and an inbred) and insecticidal seed treatment (seed-treated and nontreated). Rice water weevil densities were measured through root-soil core sampling at various time points after permanent flood establishment. Additionally, plant samples were collected at several timepoints for analyses of plant biomass, nutrient concentration, and phytohormones. Results showed that weevil densities varied over time with peak densities occurring around four weeks after permanent flood. The hybrid cultivar supported higher weevil densities but exhibited greater root and shoot biomass compared to the inbred cultivar. Weevil infestations negatively affected shoot biomass and nutrient concentrations, with significant reductions in several macronutrients and micronutrients over time. In addition, OPDA levels, a precursor of JA biosynthesis, were higher in the shoots of weevil-infested rice plants. Yield losses due to weevil infestations ranged from 8 to 35% with inbred cultivar experiencing greater yield losses than hybrid cultivar. Overall, our findings indicate that chronic root herbivory in rice was associated with reduced plant growth, yields, and nutrient uptake.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8409,"journal":{"name":"Arthropod-Plant Interactions","volume":"20 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s11829-026-10236-7.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147441447","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Minor exceptions to the strict co-dependency between a specialist Andrena bee and its death camas host, Toxicoscordion (Melanthiaceae)","authors":"James H. Cane","doi":"10.1007/s11829-026-10235-8","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11829-026-10235-8","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Two species of death-camas (<i>Toxicoscordion</i>, formerly <i>Zigadenus</i>) from the western USA imbue their pollen and nectar with steroidal alkaloids, including zygacine. The toxins are tolerated by the plants’ ubiquitous pollinator, <i>Andrena astragali</i>. This bee is monolectic, visiting no other flowers for pollen. However, 20 years of additional surveys revealed a few foragers of another bee, <i>A. amphibola</i>, plus two <i>Eristalis</i> hover flies (Syrphidae) that occasionally forage from death-camas flowers at some locations. The hover flies likely detoxify the ingested alkaloids, but the apparent tolerance of zygacine by this other <i>Andrena</i> is enigmatic.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8409,"journal":{"name":"Arthropod-Plant Interactions","volume":"20 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147441443","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Small but spicy? Small ants repel herbivores fast of a Mexican endemic shrub","authors":"Nora Villamil,&nbsp;Ornela De Gasperin,&nbsp;Karina Boege","doi":"10.1007/s11829-026-10228-7","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11829-026-10228-7","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Ant–plant mutualisms are widespread, with over 4000 angiosperm species worldwide bearing extra-floral nectaries where sugar is secreted in exchange for protection against herbivores. <i>Turnera velutina</i>, an endemic Mexican shrub, has facultative mutualist interactions with different ant species, and these interactions have variable effects on its fitness. Specifically, the presence of <i>Camponotus</i> ants have been linked to the highest <i>T. velutina’s</i> fruit production, in comparison with the presence of other patrolling ant species. Whether this outcome is because <i>Camponotus</i> ants are the most aggressive, the largest, the fastest at locating herbivores, and/or more gregarious with many workers patrolling/attacking herbivores, has not yet been formally investigated. In this study, we assessed the defensive behavior and repelling capacity of six ant species against larvae of <i>Euptoieta hegesia</i> (Lepidoptera), the main herbivore of <i>T. velutina</i> in the studied population. Contrary to our expectations, <i>Camponotus</i> ants were not the most effective defenders, and they were only better than <i>Cephalotes</i> ants, a genus that has been found to be opportunistic in other plant systems. Surprisingly, the two smallest ants, <i>Dorymyrmex bicolor</i> and <i>Brachymyrmex</i> sp., were the best defenders and the fastest at repelling herbivores, partly because many workers simultaneously attacked the larvae. We discuss how different ants may impact various aspects of a species’ fitness, highlighting the dynamic and complex outcomes of ant–plant interactions, as a function of species identity and their impacts on herbivores.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":8409,"journal":{"name":"Arthropod-Plant Interactions","volume":"20 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s11829-026-10228-7.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147441445","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Performance of the native Tyria jacobaeae L. (Lepidoptera, Erebidae) on native and invasive ragwort species in Germany","authors":"Sophie Müller,&nbsp;Ye Eun Shin,&nbsp;Annette Herz","doi":"10.1007/s11829-026-10229-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11829-026-10229-6","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The occurrence of the native ragwort <i>Jacobaea vulgaris</i> and its relatives is a problem for grassland owners, due to the pyrrolizidine alkaloids being poisonous for livestock. Besides <i>J. vulgaris</i>, the invasive <i>Senecio inaequidens</i> is challenging and control measures in line with nature conservation goals are needed. To evaluate prospects of using the native and herbivorous <i>Tyria jacobaeae</i> as a biological control agent, we studied its performance on <i>S. inaequidens</i> in comparison to the native <i>J. vulgaris</i> and <i>J. aquatica.</i> We compared the egg-laying decision of 106 females (number and placement of eggs on the plant, in the surrounding or not laid at all) and performance of 50 larvae, reared in five treatments with different food supply (only leaves or leaves and flowers) of the three ragwort species. We found that females oviposited preferably on the plant when <i>J. vulgaris</i> and <i>J. aquatica</i> were available, whereas in the presence of <i>S. inaequidens</i> most eggs were retained and not laid. No differences were observed in larval weight, weight gain, or leaf area consumed when larvae were fed with <i>J. vulgaris</i> (leaves, leaves and flowers) or <i>J. aquatica</i> leaves. Furthermore, 90% of the larvae provided with these treatments pupated successfully. In contrast, larvae developed slowly when provided with <i>S. inaequidens</i> and none survived to pupation. Our results show that <i>J. aquatica</i> is a suitable alternative host for <i>T. jacobaeae</i>, whereas <i>S. inaequidens</i> is not. We therefore argue that <i>T. jacobaeae</i> has no biological control potential against <i>S. inaequidens</i>.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8409,"journal":{"name":"Arthropod-Plant Interactions","volume":"20 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s11829-026-10229-6.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147441553","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Intercropped rye strips constrain the within-field foraging behavior of wild and managed bees on watermelon flowers","authors":"Zeus Mateos-Fierro,&nbsp;Ashley Leach,&nbsp;Ian Kaplan","doi":"10.1007/s11829-026-10232-x","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11829-026-10232-x","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Pollinator-dependent crops are typically uniform habitats but the presence of an interplanted cover crop can increase field heterogeneity, potentially affecting pollinator foraging patterns. Particularly, tall grass species like rye can act as physical barriers, constraining movement between crop rows and reducing flower visitation. In this study, we investigated the effects of rye cover crop on pollinator foraging behavior in seedless watermelon. We used 27 commercial fields between 2022 and 2025, which had either no rye (0% rye), one rye strip to every three watermelon rows (25% rye) or one rye strip every other watermelon row (50% rye). Across years, we conducted 20 observational surveys per rye level during watermelon bloom, recording multiple aspects of foraging behavior. We categorized bees in four guilds: honey bees, bumble bees, large solitary bees and small solitary bees. Overall, the number of flower visits per watermelon row was greatest with higher rye level (0% rye: 1.8, 25% rye: 2.0, 50% rye: 3.3). Rye level affected the number of row changes differently for each pollinator guild. Honey bees and small solitary bees were more affected by rye compared to bumble bees and large solitary bees; they visited more flowers per row but moved between rows less frequently. Large solitary bees exhibited the highest probability of crossing over rye. Our study shows that rye created a barrier effect by funneling bee movement, which may lead to uneven yields. To minimize potential nonuniform pollination, we recommend practices that enhance pollinator distribution and biodiversity for more resilient pollination services.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8409,"journal":{"name":"Arthropod-Plant Interactions","volume":"20 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s11829-026-10232-x.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147441554","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Integrating pest tolerance and forage quality in a breeding-focused evaluation of alfalfa genotypes under Hypera postica infestation for synthetic variety development in arid environments","authors":"Samir Tlahig,&nbsp;Sabrine Chouikhi,&nbsp;Walid Elfalleh,&nbsp;Mohamed Loumerem","doi":"10.1007/s11829-026-10230-z","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11829-026-10230-z","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Alfalfa (<i>Medicago sativa</i> L.) improvement under arid conditions increasingly requires integrating biotic stress tolerance with forage quality. This study evaluated six alfalfa genotypes—comprising native, exotic, and synthetic origins—for their response to infestation by the alfalfa weevil (<i>Hypera postica</i>), the primary insect pest affecting alfalfa productivity worldwide, under open-field conditions. Five genotypes consisted of half-sib progenies derived from either native (GAB) or exotic parental sources (AME, ABT, SAR, ETS), whereas the synthetic genotype (SYN) corresponded to a Syn-1 population obtained by mixing seeds of superior S₁ progenies selected from a polycross, with 60% originating from the native GAB background and the remaining 40% equally contributed by the four exotic families (10% each). Genotypic differences in infestation severity were substantial, ranging from 3.03% in the synthetic line SYN to 9.00% in AME and SAR, both half-sib progenies of exotic parents. The native-derived GAB exhibited intermediate infestation (6.58%) but maintained high crude protein − CP (23.65%) and moderate resilience in plant structure, marking it as a valuable contributor from local germplasm. The synthetic line SYN displayed the best integrated performance, combining the lowest infestation with sustained growth (internode length − LEN = 2.62 cm), pigment retention (SPAD = 44.1), and thermal stability (leaf temperature = 15.9 °C). In contrast, exotic-derived ABT, ETS, AME, and SAR showed sharper declines in structural and physiological traits under pest pressure. Across genotypes, infestation significantly increased fiber fractions (Neutral Detergent Fiber − NDF: + 7.2%; Acid Detergent Lignin − ADL: + 0.85%) while reducing digestibility (Dry Matter Digestibility − DMD declined to 62.3% in ETS) and SPAD index. Multivariate analysis (81.8% variance explained) revealed strong integration of morpho-physiological and nutritional traits. These findings underscore the breeding potential of native-derived progeny (GAB) and the synthetic line (SYN) for generating cultivars that jointly express pest resilience and forage value, offering strategic assets for sustainable alfalfa production in arid, pest-prone systems.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":8409,"journal":{"name":"Arthropod-Plant Interactions","volume":"20 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147440774","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}