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Sulfur fertilization increases defense metabolites and nitrogen but decreases plant resistance against a host-specific insect

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 October 2017

N.A. Santos ,
N.C. Teixeira ,
J.O.S. Valim ,
E.F.A. Almeida ,
M.G.A. Oliveira  and
W.G. Campos
N.A. Santos
Affiliation:
Department of Biosystems Engineering, Federal University of São João del Rei, São João del Rei, MG, 36301-160, Brazil
N.C. Teixeira
Affiliation:
Department of Biosystems Engineering, Federal University of São João del Rei, São João del Rei, MG, 36301-160, Brazil
J.O.S. Valim
Affiliation:
Department of Biosystems Engineering, Federal University of São João del Rei, São João del Rei, MG, 36301-160, Brazil
E.F.A. Almeida
Affiliation:
Institute of Agricultural Science, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Montes Claros, MG, 39525-000, Brazil
M.G.A. Oliveira
Affiliation:
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Viçosa, Viçosa, MG 36570-900, Brazil National Institute of Science and Technology in Plant-Pest Interactions, Brazil
W.G. Campos*
Affiliation:
Department of Biosystems Engineering, Federal University of São João del Rei, São João del Rei, MG, 36301-160, Brazil National Institute of Science and Technology in Plant-Pest Interactions, Brazil
*
*Author for correspondence: Tel: +55 (32) 3379-5566 Fax: +55 (32) 3379-5565 E-mail: wgcampos@ufsj.edu.br
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Abstract

We tested the sulfur-modulated plant resistance hypothesis using potted cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata) plants that were grown without and with increasing levels of sulfur fertilization. Changes in plant chemical traits were assessed and developmental performance of Plutella xylostella, a highly host-specific leaf-chewing insect, was followed. Leaf sulfur concentration gradually increased with growing addition of sulfur in soil; however, there was a generalized saturation response curve, with a plateau phase, for improvements in total leaf nitrogen, defense glucosinolates and insect performance. Plutella xylostella performed better in sulfur-fertilized cabbage probably because of the higher level of nitrogen, despite of the higher content of glucosinolates, which are toxic for many non-specialized insects. Despite the importance of sulfur in plant nutrition and production, especially for Brassica crops, our results showed that sulfur fertilization could decrease plant resistance against insects with high feeding specialization.

Keywords

plant defensesglucosinolatesplant qualityplant nutritionherbivoryspecialist herbivoresPlutella xylsotellaBrassica oleracea
Type
Research Papers
Information
Bulletin of Entomological Research , Volume 108 , Issue 4 , August 2018 , pp. 479 - 486
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Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2017 

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