Phytophagous mite performance on intact plants and leaf discs with different defence levels

Plant quality for herbivores is usually evaluated with molecular and physiological techniques herbivore performance bioassays. These assays are done either on intact plants or detached plant parts, such as leaves, leaflets, leaf discs. It thus far unclear how experiments parts compare. may change in because of the mechanical wounding inflicted, which induce defences. Moreover, defences often systemic, i.e., involving entire plant, not be fully expressed We investigated effects a phytophagous mite was manipulated by infesting tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L., Solanaceae) strain spider Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae) that induces defences, evansi Baker & Pritchard, suppresses using uninfested control. subsequently oviposition rate survival individual females T. discs measure performance. The mites produced fewer eggs than plants. However, lower infested inducer suppressor evansi, plants, both conclude can used to evaluate this herbivore.