Plants produce a high diversity of Secondary Metabolites (PSM) as defence compounds against herbivores and microbes. In addition, PSM can serve as signal compounds to attract pollinating insects and seed-dispersing frugivores. Despite plant chemical defence, many arthropods are herbivorous. How do they cope with the defence chemistry of their host plants?
Many arthropods have powerful detoxification systems, which prevent the uptake or accumulation of toxins in the animal. Several arthropods have only one or a few host plants and thus are particularly adapted to the defence chemistry of their host plants. Adaptations can involve: 1. Tolerance to a toxin via modification of the molecular target to which the PSM was directed. 2. Detoxification and or rapid elimination of dietary PSM. 3. Active sequestration of a PSM and its utilisation as an acquired defence compound against predators. 4. In case, that toxic PSM are stored in insects, they often show aposematic colouration as a warning signal to potential predators.
This special collection of papers will address the question: How do herbivorous arthropods cope with the defence chemistry of their host plants?
We are interested in original research articles and reviews concerning:
• Chemical analysis of secondary metabolites in arthropods in relation to those of the host plant
• Sequestration of PSM in arthropods, including an analysis of sequestration dynamics and tissue distribution
• Potential detoxification mechanisms of PSM in arthropods
• Molecular mechanisms of tolerance to a plant toxin; e.g. mutations of target sites
• Functions and efficacy of acquired defence compounds against predators
• Aposematic colouration; the role of mimicry
• Analysis of the genes involved in sequestration and tolerance using Next Generation Sequencing (genomics and transcriptomics)
• Evolution of plant arthropod interactions, including a phylogenetic/phylogenomic approach
Plants produce a high diversity of Secondary Metabolites (PSM) as defence compounds against herbivores and microbes. In addition, PSM can serve as signal compounds to attract pollinating insects and seed-dispersing frugivores. Despite plant chemical defence, many arthropods are herbivorous. How do they cope with the defence chemistry of their host plants?
Many arthropods have powerful detoxification systems, which prevent the uptake or accumulation of toxins in the animal. Several arthropods have only one or a few host plants and thus are particularly adapted to the defence chemistry of their host plants. Adaptations can involve: 1. Tolerance to a toxin via modification of the molecular target to which the PSM was directed. 2. Detoxification and or rapid elimination of dietary PSM. 3. Active sequestration of a PSM and its utilisation as an acquired defence compound against predators. 4. In case, that toxic PSM are stored in insects, they often show aposematic colouration as a warning signal to potential predators.
This special collection of papers will address the question: How do herbivorous arthropods cope with the defence chemistry of their host plants?
We are interested in original research articles and reviews concerning:
• Chemical analysis of secondary metabolites in arthropods in relation to those of the host plant
• Sequestration of PSM in arthropods, including an analysis of sequestration dynamics and tissue distribution
• Potential detoxification mechanisms of PSM in arthropods
• Molecular mechanisms of tolerance to a plant toxin; e.g. mutations of target sites
• Functions and efficacy of acquired defence compounds against predators
• Aposematic colouration; the role of mimicry
• Analysis of the genes involved in sequestration and tolerance using Next Generation Sequencing (genomics and transcriptomics)
• Evolution of plant arthropod interactions, including a phylogenetic/phylogenomic approach
