Roots under attack: contrasting plant responses to below‐ and aboveground insect herbivory

• Published in: The New phytologist Vol. 210; no. 2; pp. 413 - 418
• Main Authors: Johnson, Scott N, Erb, Matthias, Hartley, Susan E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Academic Press 01.04.2016; New Phytologist Trust; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Animals; Antagonists; defensive responses; Ecophysiology; folivores; Herbivores; Herbivory; Herbivory - physiology; Insect ecology; Insecta - physiology; Insects; Jasmonic acid; leaves; Metabolites; Microorganisms; photoassimilates; Photosynthesis; phytohormones; phytophagous insects; Plant growth substances; plant hormones; plant response; Plant Roots - physiology; Plant species; root feeding; Roots; Secondary Metabolism; secondary metabolites; Shoots; Signal Transduction; soil; Symbionts; Tansley insights; defensive responses; photoassimilates; secondary metabolites; herbivores; folivores; root feeding; phytohormones
• ISSN: 0028-646X; 1469-8137
• DOI: 10.1111/nph.13807

413 I. 413 II. 414 III. 414 IV. 415 V. 416 VI. 417 VII. 417 417 References 417 SUMMARY: The distinctive ecology of root herbivores, the complexity and diversity of root–microbe interactions, and the physical nature of the soil matrix mean that plant responses to root herbivory extrapolate poorly from our understanding of responses to aboveground herbivores. For example, root attack induces different changes in phytohormones to those in damaged leaves, including a lower but more potent burst of jasmonates in several plant species. Root secondary metabolite responses also differ markedly, although patterns between roots and shoots are harder to discern. Root defences must therefore be investigated in their own ecophysiological and evolutionary context, specifically one which incorporates root microbial symbionts and antagonists, if we are to better understand the battle between plants and their hidden herbivores.