Postdoctoral Scholar Pennsylvania State University State College, Pennsylvania
This research focuses on how the lowered induced plant defenses caused by parasitized caterpillars benefit plants. There is a cost to the plant; energy spent on defense against insects is energy that can not be used for growth/reproduction. Trade-offs between defense and growth/fitness are common in plants and are often mediated by crosstalk between phytohormones. The lower induced responses elicited by parasitized caterpillars may reduce defense energy costs and then benefit plant reproduction. Based on the concept, I evaluated the impacts of parasitism on plant fitness and found that plants showed higher fitness parameters, including higher flower number and heavier fruit weight, when treated with parasitized caterpillars than non-parasitized ones. Furthermore, the effects of parasitism not only facilitate reproduction in parent plants but also stimulate offspring germination rate and defense profile. This research revealed novel top-down effects from parasitoids on plant fitness by modulating plant defense responses.
