The co-existence of multiple oak leaf flushes contributes to the large within-tree variation in chemistry, insect attack and pathogen infection

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  • Álvaro Gaytán
  • Xoaquín Moreira
  • Bastien Castagneyrol
  • Inge Van Halder
  • Pieter De Frenne
  • Camille Meeussen
  • Bart G. H. Timmermans
  • Jan P. J. G. Ten Hoopen
  • Pil U. Rasmussen
  • Nick Bos
  • Raimo Jaatinen
  • Pertti Pulkkinen
  • Sara Söderlund
  • Felisa Covelo
  • Karl Gotthard
  • Ayco J. M. Tack

Many plant species produce multiple leaf flushes during the growing season, which might have major consequences for within-plant variation in chemistry and species interactions. Yet, we lack a theoretical or empirical framework for how differences among leaf flushes might shape variation in damage by insects and diseases. We assessed the impact of leaf flush identity on leaf chemistry, insect attack and pathogen infection on the pedunculate oak Quercus robur by sampling leaves from each leaf flush in 20 populations across seven European countries during an entire growing season. The first leaf flush had higher levels of primary compounds, and lower levels of secondary compounds, than the second flush, whereas plant chemistry was highly variable in the third flush. Insect attack decreased from the first to the third flush, whereas infection by oak powdery mildew was lowest on leaves from the first flush. The relationship between plant chemistry, insect attack and pathogen infection varied strongly among leaf flushes and seasons. Our findings demonstrate the importance of considering differences among leaf flushes for our understanding of within-tree variation in chemistry, insect attack and disease levels, something particularly relevant given the expected increase in the number of leaf flushes with climate change.

Original languageEnglish
JournalNew Phytologist
Volume235
Issue number4
Pages (from-to)1615-1628
Number of pages14
ISSN0028-646X
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2022

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 The Authors. New Phytologist © 2022 New Phytologist Foundation.

    Research areas

  • herbivory, leaf chemistry, leaf flush, pathogen infection, polycyclism, Quercus robur

ID: 310382382