Print PageThe presence of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AM fungi) in the roots of plants can have varied effects on insect herbivores. This study focuses on the root feeding Vine Weevil Otioryhnchus sulcatus Fabricius which is a pest of the perennial soft fruit crop Raspberry Rubus idaeusL.
A glasshouse experiment was conducted with two different cultivars of R. Idaeus, Glen Rosa and Glen Ample, grown with or without AM fungi and then subjected to three weevil treatments: control; low (20 eggs/plant) and high (40 eggs/plant). Plant measurements were taken periodically. The root volatiles were then measured using thermal desorption.
Six weeks after the addition of the weevils the plants were harvested, freeze dried and weighed. Surviving weevil larvae were collected and enable the calculation of larval mortality on each plant.
Results/Conclusions
Plants inoculated with AM fungal spores showed increased leaf growth. Vine weevils were found to have a positive effect on aboveground plant biomass suggesting a degree of compensatory growth. This response was particularly pronounced in the high weevil treatment on Glen Ample plants.
Variation in AM fungal root colonisation patterns and analyses of root volatiles across the different treatments will also be presented.
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