Agriculture Commons^™

Type Of Stress Induces Differential Responses In Acer Rubrum (Red Maple), But Induced Responses Have No Effect On Herbivorous Pests, Cindy Perkovich, Anthony Witcher, Grayson Delay, Karla Addesso

Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Faculty Research

Plants thrive in dynamic environments requiring adaptive strategies in response to environmental stressors. Furthermore, insect herbivores may be attracted or deterred by the expression of these traits. This study examines growth, physiological, and phytochemical adaptations of maple trees in response to stressors and how these stressors effect herbivore feeding behavior within an agricultural production system. Agricultural systems are unique because plants experience environmental stressors unique to production such as herbicide sprays and girdling. Using four environmental stressors commonly observed in agricultural production (control, mechanical defoliation, chemical defoliation, and girdling), applied to two cultivars of red maple (Acer rubrum, ‘Brandywine’ and …