Photosynthetica, 2008 (vol. 46), issue 1

Photosynthetica 2008, 46(1):139-142 | DOI: 10.1007/s11099-008-0022-z

Influence of insect-infested cotyledons on early seedling growth of Mongolian oak, Quercus mongolica

X. F. Yi1,2, Z. B. Zhang1,*
1 State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents in Agriculture, Institute of Zoology, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
2 College of Agriculture, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, China

Insect-infested (II) acorns germinated 3 d earlier than the healthy (H) ones. However, germination ratio of II-acorns was strongly decreased compared with H-acorns and there were great differences in activities of amylase. We found an apparently lower net photosynthetic rate and total chlorophyll contents of the first true leaf of II-acorns than of the H-ones. Maximal photochemical efficiency of photosystem 2 (PS2, Fv/Fm) decreased in seedlings germinated from II-acorns than from the H-ones. Infestation of insects, especially for weevil (Curculio spp.) had significantly negative effects on length of taproots, height of plants, dry mass (DM) of roots and the first fully expanded true leaf. Leaf area and total N content of the first true leaf declined due to limitation of resource reserves in cotyledons. Damage of cotyledons caused by weevil accounted much for poor development of seedlings germinated from II-acorns. A mutual relationship between seedling establishment and seed-infesting insects may exist due to high predation on H-acorns by small rodents.

Keywords: Curculio; dry mass; leaf; leaf area; net photosynthetic rate; nitrogen content; photochemical efficiency; photosystem 2; plant height; root; weevil

Received: January 30, 2007; Accepted: September 17, 2007; Published: March 1, 2008Show citation

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Yi, X.F., & Zhang, Z.B. (2008). Influence of insect-infested cotyledons on early seedling growth of Mongolian oak, Quercus mongolica. Photosynthetica, 46(1), 139-142. doi: 10.1007/s11099-008-0022-z.
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