Compensatory Production in Solanum Carolinense following Attack by a Host-Specific Herbivore

Abstract

The effect of infestation of leaves and fruits of S. carolinense by the host-specific herbivore Frumenta nundinella was investigated in 2 growth-chamber experiments. Leaf and fruit infestation reduced fruit production and total net production (in energy units) of plants allowed to grow for 9 wk after infestation. Net production and fruit production of plants allowed to grow for 13 wk were not significantly different from that of control plants. No organ on infested plants (except fruits) differed in specific energy or N concentration from its counterpart on control plants; infested fruits had lower specific energy than non-infested fruits. Estimated consumption rates for fruit-infesting larvae indicated that the cost to the plant of producing an infested fruit (in terms of energy and N) was approximately equal to the cost of producing a seeded fruit.