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The effect of nitrogen fertilization and rust fungus infection, singly and combined, on the leaf chemical composition of Rumex obtusifolius
Article first published online: 30 OCT 2003
DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2435.1997.00123.x
1997 British Ecological Society
1365-2435/asset/cover.gif?v=1&s=571713c051a4c9b4843f1aa4a484de7ca8661854 "Functional Ecology")
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How to Cite
HATCHER, P. E., PAUL, N. D., AYRES, P. G. and WHITTAKER, J. B. (1997), The effect of nitrogen fertilization and rust fungus infection, singly and combined, on the leaf chemical composition of Rumex obtusifolius. Functional Ecology, 11: 545–553. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2435.1997.00123.x
Publication History
- Issue published online: 30 OCT 2003
- Article first published online: 30 OCT 2003
Keywords:
- Ammonium;
- carbohydrate;
- insect herbivory;
- nitrate;
- oxalate
1. The chrysomelid beetle Gastrophysa viridula occurs on Rumex obtusifolius growing in a range of nutrient conditions and also on plants infected with the foliar fungus Uromyces rumicis. In a controlled environment, we investigated the effect of fertilizing plants with eight nitrate and four ammonium concentrations, with or without infection, on leaf nutritional quality.
2. Increasing nitrate fertilization increased leaf oxalate, total nitrogen and nitrate concentrations and water content, and decreased total non-structural carbohydrate (NSC) concentrations. Increasing ammonium fertilization increased leaf nitrogen concentration and water content, decreased nitrate and NSC concentrations, and had no effect on oxalate concentrations.
3. Infection produced a mainly additive effect to fertilization, increasing NSC and oxalate, and decreasing nitrate and nitrogen concentration in whole plants fed nitrate, and increasing nitrate and NSC in whole plants fed ammonium.
4. Young leaves on infected plants remained uninfected and had greater nitrogen and NSC concentrations, and lower oxalate and nitrate concentrations, than infected leaves on the same plant.
5. These results are discussed in relation to changes in C:N and NSC:organic nitrogen ratios, the effect of nitrate and oxalate, and the known feeding and oviposition preferences of the beetle. The results suggest that there is an optimum nitrogen fertilization level for G. viridula development.