Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Short-term induction of alkaloid production in lupines Differences between N2-fixing and nitrogen-limited plants

  • Published:
Journal of Chemical Ecology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We used N2-fixing and nonfixing lupines to examine the effects of plant nutrition on short-term alkaloid production in damaged leaves. Three different treatments were used: damaged leaves from N2-fixing plants; undamaged leaves from these damaged, N2-fixing plants; and damaged leaves on nitrogen-limited, nonfixing plants. Relative to controls, alkaloids increased in concentration more quickly in the N2-fixing than in the nitrogen-limited plants. The magnitude of this increase in alkaloids was correlated with the initial alkaloid concentration. These results suggest that nitrogen-rich plants may benefit from faster and higher alkaloid induction than nitrogen-limited plants. In addition, the detailed dynamics of individual alkaloids are consistent with earlier proposals for the mechanism of lupine alkaloid induction.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Broadway, R.M., Duffey, S.S., Pearce, G., andRyan, C.A. 1986. Plant proteinase inhibitors: a defense against herbivorous insects?Entomol. Exp. Appl. 41:33–38.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bryant, J.P. 1987. Feltleaf willow-snowshoe hare interactions: Plant carbon/nutrient balance and floodplain succession.Ecology 68:1319–1327.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chapin, F.S., III. 1980. The mineral nutrition of wild plants.Annu. Rev. Ecol. Syst. 11:233–260.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fowler, S.V., andLawton, J.H. 1985. Rapidly induced defenses and talking trees: The devil's advocate position.Am. Nat. 126:181–195.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gershenzon, J. 1984. Changes in the levels of plant secondary metabolites under water and nutrient stress.Recent Adv. Phytochem. 18:273–320.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, N.D., andBentley, B.L. 1988. Effects of dietary protein and lupine alkaloids on growth and survivorship ofSpodoptera eridania.J. Chem. Ecol. 14:1391–1403.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, N.D. andBentley, B.L. 1989. Symbiotic N2 fixation and the elements of plant resistance to herbivores: A case-study of the alkaloids and tolerance to defoliation of lupines,in C. Jones, V. Krischik, and P. Barbosa (eds.). John Wiley & Sons, New York. In press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, N.D., Liu, B., andBentley, B.L. 1987. The effects of nitrogen fixation, soil nitrate, and defoliation on the growth, alkaloids, and nitrogen levels ofLupinus succulentus (Fabaceae).Oecologia (Berlin) 74:425–431.

    Google Scholar 

  • Larsson, S., Wiren, A., Lundgren, L., andEricsson, T. 1986. Effects of light and nutrient stress on leaf phenolic chemistry inSalix dasyclados and susceptibility toGalerucella lineola (Coleoptera).Oikos 47:205–210.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rhoades, D.R. 1983. Herbivore population dynamics and plant chemistry, pp. 155–220,in R.F. Denno and M.S. McClure (eds.). Variable Plants and Herbivores in Natural and Managed Systems. Academic Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schultz, J.C. 1988. Plant responses induced by herbivores.Trends Res. Ecol. Evol. 3:45–49.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tallamy, D.W. 1985. Squash beetle feeding behavior: An adaptation against induced cucurbit defenses.Ecology 66:1574–1579.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ury, H.K. 1976. A comparison of four procedures for multiple comparisons among means (pairwise contrasts) for arbitrary sample sizes.Technometrics 18:89–97.

    Google Scholar 

  • Waller, G.R., andNowacki, E.K. 1978. Alkaloid Biology and Metabolism in Plants. Plenum Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wink, M. 1983. Wounding-induced increase of quinolizidine alkaloid accumulation in lupin leaves.Z. Naturforsch. 38c:905–909.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wink, M. 1984. Chemical defense of lupins. Mollusc-repellent properties of quinolizidine alkaloids.Z. Naturforsch. 39c:553–558.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wink, M., andHartmann, T. 1982. Diurnal fluctuation of quinolizidine alkaloid accumulation in legume plants and photomiotrophic cell suspension cultures.Z. Naturforsch. 37c:369–375.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wink, M., andWitte, L. 1985. Quinolizidine alkaloids as nitrogen source for lupin seedlings and cell cultures.Z. Naturforsch. 40c:767–775.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wink, M., Witte, L., andHartmann, T. 1981. Quinolizidine alkaloid composition of plants and of photomiotrophic cell suspension cultures ofSarothamnus scoparius andOrobanche rapumgenistae.Planta Med. 43:342–352.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ecology and Evolution, SUNY at Stony Brook, 11794, Stony Brook, New York

    Nelson D. Johnson, Lisa P. Rigney & Barbara L. Bentley

Authors
  1. Nelson D. Johnson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Lisa P. Rigney
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Barbara L. Bentley
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Johnson, N.D., Rigney, L.P. & Bentley, B.L. Short-term induction of alkaloid production in lupines Differences between N2-fixing and nitrogen-limited plants. J Chem Ecol 15, 2425–2434 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01020373

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01020373

Key words

Search

Navigation