different Modes of Insect Plant Interaction

different modes of interaction between insects and plants including mutualism, commensalism, antagonism, Pairwise and diffuse coevolution, Plant defenses, how coevolution started

1. Presented by- Archita Das Roll no.- IARINAG20231003 Course- ENT 603 MODES OF INSECT-PLANT INTERACTION Term paper presentation on Division of Entomology IARI- CICR Nagpur, Maharashtra

2. ICAR- Central institute for Cotton Research, Nagpur Outline of Presentation Introduction How Plant – insect interaction started? Types of interaction Mutualism, antagonism and commensalism Mutualism types and procedures Co-evolution Plant defence Conclusion

3. ICAR- Central institute for Cotton Research, Nagpur The Cold War ! Source- https://tenor.com/search/carnivorous-plant-gifs

4. ICAR- Central institute for Cotton Research, Nagpur Plants and insects have both benefited and harmed one another through the ages. Many plants provide sweet nectar as food to bees, wasps, moths and butterflies. In return, these carry pollen caught on their bodies to other plants. This aids their benefactor plants in the reproduction process. On the other hand, harm may come to the plant as insects prey on the plant for food. Plants can be defoliated in short order. In fact, more than half of all insects are plant feeders. Introduction Image source- verctorstock.com & istockphoto.com

5. ICAR- Central institute for Cotton Research, Nagpur THE BEGINNING Image source- verctorstock.com & istockphoto.com Thick cuticle Hard sheath Trichomes

6. ICAR- Central institute for Cotton Research, Nagpur Types of Interaction Mutualism(+,+): help each other, both benefit and no one is harmed. Antagonism (+, -): one benefits, another is harmed. Commensalism (+, 0): one benefits, another is unaffected.

7. ICAR- Central institute for Cotton Research, Nagpur A. Mutualism POLLINATION SEED DISPERSAL PROTECTION The plant feeds the pollinator and the pollinator accomplishes the pollen transfer for the plant. Attractive cues Emission of fragrance Change in Shape Change in colour Rewards Pollen Nectar Image source-https://www.vectorstock.com/

8. ICAR- Central institute for Cotton Research, Nagpur POLLINATION PROTECTION SEED DISPERSAL The cecropia plant provides shelter and food for the ant, and the ant protects the plant from herbivore predators. Image source-https://canopytower.com/cecropia/

9. ICAR- Central institute for Cotton Research, Nagpur POLLINATION PROTECTION SEED DISPERSAL Ants pick up seeds off the forest floor to carry back to the nest. Once inside the nest, the ants chew ends off the seeds for food. This action promotes germination in the seeds at a later date.

10. ICAR- Central institute for Cotton Research, Nagpur Attracting cues Rewards POLLINATION Visual Olfactory Shape Bull’s eye pattern Reverse Bull’s eye pattern Bees: sweet or spicy Moth: very heady sweet fragrances Bats: Strong fruity or musky scents Beetle: easy, open entrance Hovering pollinators: generally hang down and have a long nectar tube Non-hovering insects and birds: need perches or landing platforms as part of the flower Image source-https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ 1.Nectar: primarily sugar solution (25- 75%), variable amounts of amino acids and lipids 2. Pollen: the most direct reward; rich in protein and fat

11. ICAR- Central institute for Cotton Research, Nagpur Spectrum of co-evolution (Co-evolution: reciprocal adaptive changes) Pairwise co-evolution Diffuse co-evolution Co-adaptation of two species. The adaptive responses between two species lead to evolutionary changes in each other. Also called “ specific co-evolution ” Co-adaptation within a community involving multiple species. This sort of diffuse co-evolution, by guilds of interacting species, has produced a range of so-called pollination syndrome, or collection of traits characterizing plants sharing similar pollinators .

12. ICAR- Central institute for Cotton Research, Nagpur Pairwise co-evolution figs-fig wasps - Video source- BBC earth youtube channel

13. ICAR- Central institute for Cotton Research, Nagpur Yucca-Yucca moth relationship - Pairwise co-evolution Image source-https://forestrypedia.com/

14. ICAR- Central institute for Cotton Research, Nagpur Diffuse co-evolution Beetle pollination: beetles are pollen chewers, not very specialized for pollination; flowers are not very specialized for pollinators--large, open, dish and bowl type, no nectar guide, easy access. Cantharophily Image source-https://extension.umn.edu/

15. ICAR- Central institute for Cotton Research, Nagpur Diffuse co-evolution Myophily Fly pollination: flowers produce fly attracting odors (dung or decaying carrion) and frequently trap fly inside flowers. Image source-https://extension.umn.edu/

16. ICAR- Central institute for Cotton Research, Nagpur Diffuse co-evolution Phalaenophily Moth with long thin proboscis, tend to hover below the flower and point its proboscis upward to insert it in the long nectar spurs. Image source-https://forestrypedia.com/

17. ICAR- Central institute for Cotton Research, Nagpur Diffuse co-evolution Psychophily Pollination by butterfly. Flower has red/yellow color patterns, the large landing platform, wide flower, bloom at day time. Image source-https://forestrypedia.com/

18. ICAR- Central institute for Cotton Research, Nagpur Diffuse co-evolution Melittophily Strong landing platform, vivid color present, UV-reflectance pattern, subtle odor in flower. Bees are pollen chewers, morphologically well adapted for pollen transfer Image source-https://forestrypedia.com/

19. ICAR- Central institute for Cotton Research, Nagpur Protection Acacia- plant mutualism Pseudomyrmex Ants: body guard for acacia against herbivores and other plants by biting and stinging Acacia: provide shelter (enlarged hollow thorns) and food (Modified leaflet tips called Beltian Bodies) for the ant Video source- National Geographic youtube channel

20. ICAR- Central institute for Cotton Research, Nagpur B. Antagonistic interactions • Antagonistic (+,-): not win-win situation, but one benefits, another harmed. Herbivory: insects eat plants Can plants turn the tables on insects and eat them instead of the reverse? Yes!! called insectivory Venus’s fly trap Sundew Butterwort Pitcher plant Image source- https://makeagif.com/ Image source-https://mycarnivorousplants.tumblr.com/ Image source- https://www.pinterest.com/ Image source-https://mycarnivorousplants.tumblr.com/

21. ICAR- Central institute for Cotton Research, Nagpur Commensalism Phoresy or Hitch Hicking

22. ICAR- Central institute for Cotton Research, Nagpur Plant Defences About 20% of crops are lost annually to insects. Some plants have evolved tough bark, slippery leaves, or noxious/distasteful chemicals contained within the plant body. These methods of defense can be grouped under two categories: 1.physical - Tough bark and slippery leaves are examples of physical defenses which relate to structures on the plant that deter insects. 2. chemical- Noxious/distasteful chemicals are chemical defenses which plants produce .

23. ICAR- Central institute for Cotton Research, Nagpur Conclusion You have seen how insects and plants have evolved together through time. Plant and insects came up with different attack and defend strategies! And the war between insects and plants continue….. However, there are several beneficial insect/plant relationships. Ants eat fleshy portions of wildflower seeds, and this prepares the seed to germinate. Azteca ants eat starchy nodules secreted by the Cecropia plant, and in return, the ants fight off any of the plant's predators. The fig wasp uses the fig fruit as an incubator for its larval stage and the fig tree is pollinate

24. ICAR- Central institute for Cotton Research, Nagpur