Microbe‐induced plant resistance alters aphid inter‐genotypic competition leading to rapid evolution with consequences for plant growth and aphid abundance

Xi, Xinqiang ORCID: 0000-0001-9312-1095, Dean, Andrew ORCID: 0000-0001-9033-7560 and Zytynska, Sharon E ORCID: 0000-0002-0174-3303 (2024) Microbe‐induced plant resistance alters aphid inter‐genotypic competition leading to rapid evolution with consequences for plant growth and aphid abundance. Oikos.

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/oik.10426

Abstract

<jats:p>Plants and insect herbivores are two of the most diverse multicellular groups in the world, and both are strongly influenced by interactions with the belowground soil microbiome. Effects of reciprocal rapid evolution on ecological interactions between herbivores and plants have been repeatedly demonstrated, but it is unknown if (and how) the soil microbiome could mediate these eco‐evolutionary processes on a shared host plant. We tested the role of a plant‐beneficial soil bacterium <jats:italic>Acidovorax radicis</jats:italic> in altering eco‐evolutionary interactions between different aphid genotypes (<jats:italic>Sitobion avenae</jats:italic>, genotypes Sickte and Fescue) feeding on barley <jats:italic>Hordeum vulgare</jats:italic>. We measured fecundity, longevity and population growth of two aphid genotypes reared separately or together (population mixture) on three different barley varieties that were inoculated with or without <jats:italic>A. radicis</jats:italic>. Results showed that across all plant varieties <jats:italic>A. radicis</jats:italic> increased plant growth and suppressed aphid populations via reduced longevity and fecundity. The strength of effect was dependent on aphid genotype and barley variety, while the direction of effect was altered by aphid population mixture. Using Lotka–Volterra modelling, we demonstrated that while <jats:italic>A. radicis</jats:italic> inoculation decreased growth rates for both aphid genotypes it increased the competitiveness of one genotype against the other. In general, in the presence of <jats:italic>A. radicis</jats:italic>, the Fescue aphid genotype became more inhibitory of Sickte aphids, while Sickte aphids facilitated the growth of Fescue aphids. Our work demonstrates that plant rhizosphere microbiomes exert community‐level influences by mediating eco‐evolutionary interactions between herbivores and host plants. By altering competitive interaction outcomes among aphids and thus impacting processes such as rapid evolution, soil microbes contribute to the short‐ and long‐term structure and functioning of terrestrial habitats.</jats:p>

Item Type:	Article
Divisions:	Faculty of Health and Life Sciences Faculty of Health and Life Sciences > Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	18 Mar 2024 14:44
Last Modified:	18 Mar 2024 14:47
DOI:	10.1111/oik.10426
Open Access URL:	https://nsojournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10...
Related URLs:	Publisher
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3179643