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A potential influence of rhizobium activity on the availability of nitrogen to legume herbivores

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Summary

Evidence is presented which supports the hypothesis that allantoin, a ureide that is a major storage form of nitrogen (N) in legumes whose N is derived from N-fixation, is not utilizable by at least some insect herbivores. We suggest that the nutritive quality of soybean foliage for Mexican bean beetles is influenced by soil nitrogen level through its impact on rhizobial activity which indirectly alters the proportion of ureide-nitrogen to amino acid-nitrogen without affecting total Kjeldahl-nitrogen. This may provide a basic mechanism for protecting the nitrogen stores of legumes from herbivory while avoiding the metabolic burden of secondary compound production.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Entomology, North Carolina State University, 27650, Raleigh, NC, USA

    Karen G. Wilson & R. E. Stinner

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  1. Karen G. Wilson
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  2. R. E. Stinner
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Additional information

Journal paper no. 9100 of the Journal Series of the North Carolina Agricultural Research Service, Raleigh, NC 27650. This research was supported by NSF grant DEB 78-22738 and USDA/SEA grant 5901-0410-9-0210-0

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Wilson, K.G., Stinner, R.E. A potential influence of rhizobium activity on the availability of nitrogen to legume herbivores. Oecologia 61, 337–341 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00379631

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00379631

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