9420986 Dyer There is circumstantial evidence that plants absorb certain compounds secreted by herbivores (e.g.,in saliva) and use these as cues for initiation of compensatory growth or induced defenses. If this view is correct, it has important implication for understanding the dynamics of plant animal interactions. However, to date there is no convincing direct evidence that this is occurring. This project is establishing definitively whether carbon-based compounds secreted by insect herbivores enter plant tissues during or after herbivory. This project utilizes the Lawrence Livermore National Lab's accelerator mass spectrometry to estimate the carbon mass from herbivore regurgitates entering 14C-depleted experimental plants. This research will improve our understanding of the dynamics of plant-herbivore interactions. The results will have potential application to pest control in agriculture and forestry.
