Cited by 115Selenium in Biological SystemsInsect-Plant Interactions and ControlPlant Micronutrient Interactions and Effects

Selenium hyperaccumulation offers protection from cell disruptor herbivores

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Quinn, Colin F, Freeman, John L, Reynolds, Ray JB, Cappa, Jennifer J, Fakra, Sirine C, Marcus, Matthew A, Lindblom, Stormy D, Quinn, Erin K +2 more·2010·BMC Ecology

Abstract

Background: Hyperaccumulation, the rare capacity of certain plant species to accumulate toxic trace elements to levels several orders of magnitude higher than other species growing on the same site, is thought to be an elemental defense mechanism against herbivores and pathogens. Previous research has shown that selenium (Se) hyperaccumulation protects plants from a variety of herbivores and pathogens. Selenium hyperaccumulating plants sequester Se in discrete locations in the leaf periphery, making them potentially more susceptible to some herbivore feeding modes than others. In this study we investigate the protective function of Se in the Se hyperaccumulators Stanleya pinnata and Astragalus bisulcatus against two cell disrupting herbivores, the western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis) and the two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae). Results: Astragalus bisulcatus and S. pinnata with high Se concentrations (greater than 650 mg Se kg-1) were less subject to thrips herbivory than plants with low Se levels (less than 150 mg Se kg-1). Furthermore, in plants containing elevated Se levels, leaves with higher concentrations of Se suffered less herbivory than leaves with less Se. Spider mites also preferred to feed on low-Se A. bisulcatus and S. pinnata plants rather than high-Se plants. Spider mite populations on A. bisulcatus decreased after plants were given a higher concentration of Se. Interestingly, spider mites could colonize A. bisulcatus plants containing up to 200 mg Se kg-1 dry weight, concentrations which are toxic to many other herbivores. Selenium distribution and speciation studies using micro-focused X-ray fluorescence (μXRF) mapping and Se K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy revealed that the spider mites accumulated primarily methylselenocysteine, the relatively non-toxic form of Se that is also the predominant form of Se in hyperaccumulators. Conclusions: This is the first reported study investigating the protective effect of hyperaccumulated Se against cell-disrupting herbivores. The finding that Se protected the two hyperaccumulator species from both cell disruptors lends further support to the elemental defense hypothesis and increases the number of herbivores and feeding modes against which Se has shown a protective effect. Because western flower thrips and two-spotted spider mites are widespread and economically important herbivores, the results from this study also have potential applications in agriculture or horticulture, and implications for the management of Se-rich crops.

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  1. Williams MR Cotton Insect Losses Procedings of Beltwide Cotton Production: 3-6 January 2006; Memphis, TN Conference by the National Cotton Council of America, Memphis, TN 2006 1151 1204

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Authors
Quinn, C. F., Freeman, J. L., Reynolds, R. J., Cappa, J. J., Fakra, S. C., Marcus, M. A., Lindblom, S. D., Quinn, E. K., Bennett, L. E., & Pilon-Smits, E. A.
Affiliations
  • Colorado State University (US)
  • Agricultural Research Service (US)
  • Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (US)
Venue
BMC Ecology
Published
2010-08-27
Volume
10
Issue
1
Pages
19-19
ISSN
1472-6785 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2073655517
Cited by
112
References
51
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 17 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 9 · 2014: 6 · 2013: 4 · 2012: 6
FWCI
5.46
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
cc-by
Locations
  • BMC Ecology (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • University of North Texas Digital Library (University of North Texas) (submittedVersion)
  • OSTI OAI (U.S. Department of Energy Office of Scientific and Technical Information) (submittedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion)
  • eScholarship (California Digital Library) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • National Science Foundation (DEAC02-05CH11231, 0444471, 0817748)
  • U.S. Department of Energy (-AC02-05CH11231, 05CH11231, DE AC02 05CH11231, DE-AC02-)
  • Office of Science (DEAC02–05CH11231, AC02-05CH11231, DE-AC02, 05CH11231)
  • Basic Energy Sciences (DE-AC02, DE-AC02-05CH11231., AC02–05CH11231)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Selenium in Biological Systems
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Insect Science › Insect-Plant Interactions and Control
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Plant Science › Plant Micronutrient Interactions and Effects
Keywords
selenium hyperaccumulation, plant-herbivore interactions, Stanleya pinnata, Astragalus bisulcatus, Frankliniella occidentalis, Tetranychus urticae, Tetranychidae, Thysanoptera, methylselenocysteine, selenium speciation, herbivore feeding preference
MeSH terms
Animals, Cysteine, Food Preferences, Insecta, Selenium, Organoselenium Compounds, Selenocysteine, Brassicaceae, Astragalus Plant, Tetranychidae

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