入侵物种三裂叶蟛蜞菊挥发物对杂草叶绿素含量的影响

研究了华南地区外来入侵植物三裂叶蟛蜞菊（Wedelia trilobata L.）挥发物对本地区3种主要杂草的叶绿素含量的影响,以揭示其化感作用的机理。结果表明：三裂叶蟛蜞菊植株挥发物和挥发油对稗草（Echinochloa crusgalli（L.）Beauv.）、三叶鬼针草（Bidens pilosa L.）和青葙（Celosia argentea L.）叶绿素含量有明显的抑制作用。在同一实验条件下,250.0 g三裂叶蟛蜞菊新鲜茎叶及含有0.10 mL、0.25 mL和0.50 mL挥发油容器中生长的稗草、三叶鬼针草和青葙的叶绿素含量明显减少,稗草的叶绿素含量分别比对照减少56.5%、41.9%、49.6%和64.9%;三叶鬼针草的叶绿素含量分别比对照减少6.45%、4.35%、15.3%和24.8%;青葙的叶绿素含量分别比对照减少53.3%、17.6%、33.3%和71.5%。结论：三裂叶蟛蜞菊挥发物的化感作用可使受体植物的叶绿素含量减少。其作用机理值得深入研究。     

Controlling bacterial leaf blight of rice and enhancing the plant growth with endophytic and rhizobacterial Bacillus strains

This study was conducted to assess efficacy of biological control against bacterial leaf blight (BLB) of rice produced by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae. Five endophytic strains (A1, A2, A3, A13 and A15) and two rhizospherial Bacilli (D29 and H8) were tested for their antagonistic activities against BLB in vitro and in vivo. All seven strains showed high potential of antagonistic activity against X. oryzae pv. oryzae and three phytopathogenic fungi in vitro. Test of 16SrRNA gene sequence were assigned isolates A1, A3 and A13 as Bacillus amyloliquefaciens while isolates A2 and A15 as B. methylotrophicus and B. subtilis, respectively. In greenhouse, four strains of displayed 50.29%–57.86% inhibition rate against the pathogen and significantly increased plant fresh weight from 50.03% to 73.11% and dry weight from 64.11% to 86.65% in treated rice plants. In addition, these strains demonstrated strong capability to produce indole-3-acetic acid, siderophores, solubilizing phosphate and also colonize roots. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction revealed that expression of defense-related genes including OsAOS2, OsJMT1, OsNPR1 and OsPR1b were significantly up-regulated in leaves of D29-exposed rice plants, suggesting that treatment of rice with D29 suppressed BLB through systemic activation of the plant defense system. Therefore, data suggest that Bacillus isolates A13, A15, D29 and H8 support effective antagonistic activity against BLB under greenhouse conditions in addition to their potential to promote growth of rice plants.     

Antifeedant activity of aqueous extract of Gnidia glauca Gilg. and Toddalia asiatica Lam. on the gram pod borer, Helicoverpa armigera (Hbn)

Aqueous leaf extracts of two plants namely Gnidia glauca Gilg. and Toddalia asiatica Lam., have been screened for their antifeedant activity against the sixth instar larvae of Helicoverpa armigera (Hbn) by applying the aqueous leaf extracts at various concentrations viz., 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8 and 1.0 percent on young tomato leaves. The larval mortality of more than 50 percent at higher concentrations (0.8 and 1.0 percent) was observed in the aqueous extracts. Among the two aqueous leaf extracts tested, T. asiatica was found to show higher rate of mortality (86.1%) at 1.0 percent concentration. A reduction in the rate of food consumption and growth was observed in the larvae of H. armigera after 48 hours of treatments in both the aqueous extracts. Since this insect pest species have developed resistance and resurgence to synthetic insecticides, the only alternate is the usage of bio-pesticides for they are eco-friendly, pollution free and easily degradable.     

喀斯特特有植物罗甸小米核桃幼苗对光照强度的可塑性响应

研究光照强度对1年生喀斯特特有植物罗甸小米核桃幼苗可塑性的影响,探讨其在个体定居初期如何响应不同光照强度的变化及其生态适应策略.设置约为自然光100％、75％、50％和25％的光照强度处理材料,4个月后收获,比较分析罗甸小米核桃幼苗的形态、生物量分配和生理性状在不同光照强度处理下的差异,并对可塑性指标进行综合评价.结果...     

Influence of glucose feeding on the ligninolytic enzyme production of the white-rot fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium

The present work studied the influence of glucose feeding on the ligninolytic enzyme production of Phanerochaete chrysosporium in a nitrogen-limited (C/N ratio is 56/8.8 mmol/L) medium. Several sets of shaking flask experiments were conducted. The results showed that 2 g/L glucose feeding on the first day of the culture (24 h after the inoculation) simulated both fungal biomass growth and enzyme production. The manganese peroxidase (MnP) activity was 2.5 times greater than that produced in cultures without glucose feeding. Furthermore, the glucose feeding mode in fed-batch culture was also investigated. Compared to cultures with glucose feeding every 48 h, cultures with glucose feeding of 1.5 g/L (final concentration) every 24 h produced more enzymes. The peak and total yield of MnP activity were 2.7 and 3 times greater compared to the contrast culture, respectively, and the enzyme was kept stable for 4 days with an activity of over 200 U/L.     

逆境下植物叶性状变化的研究进展

介绍了逆境下植物叶性状变化的研究进展。在逆境下,植物的叶片形态、解剖构造和内含物质等方面产生变化或特化,以保证植物正常的生命活动。解剖构造与树木的抗旱性关系密切,渗透调节是一个重要的抗旱性和抗盐性机制。植物为了减少虫害的发生,采用防卫和逃避相结合的策略保护自己。叶片中午受到强光胁迫时存在明显的＂避光运动＂,栅栏组织的叶绿体通过不同的运动排列方式来调整对光辐射的吸收,减少光胁迫。植物在阴蔽的环境中,通过大的叶面积等方式保证在弱光条件下充分利用光能。在干旱和盐胁迫下,叶片变小或消失,叶片表皮角质化,在叶片或细胞外形成一些机械组织,叶肉质化,白天叶片气孔关闭等方式增加耐盐性。多年生落叶树木和不落叶的植物通过不同的方式增加抗寒力。基因对叶性状的影响尚有争议。叶性状的差异可能是对不同环境的反映,或者是它们的年龄和基因引起的。最后,对叶性状的研究前景作了展望。     

Bacterial colonization of the phyllosphere of nineteen plant species and antimicrobial activity of their leaf secondary metabolites against leaf associated bacteria

Summary. The scope of this work was to examine whether leaf constitutive secondary metabolites play a role in determining bacterial colonization of the phyllosphere. To this aim, we surveyed nineteen native or cultivated plant species that share a common bacterial pool in a North Mediterranean area, and estimated the size of total and ice nucleation active (INA) bacterial populations on their leaves. Large differences in the colonization of their phyllosphere were found; the population size of epiphytic bacteria ranged from 7.5 × 10² to 1 × 10⁶ CFU/g fresh weight, in eucalypt and celery, respectively. Species native in Mediterranean-type climate areas, particularly those belonging to the group of aromatic plants, are characterized by scarce presence of INA bacteria. The antibacterial activity of essential oils, surface phenolics and leaf tissue extracts was also estimated against the INA strains P. syringae and E. herbicola, isolated from two of these plant species. E. herbicola proved more sensitive than P. syringae. Of the species examined, oregano [Origanum vulgare L. subsp. hirtum (Link.) Ietswaart], an aromatic plant, had the highest antimicrobial activity, whereas six species showed no activity at all. Further experiments were performed with oregano and bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) that represent two extremes in their secondary metabolite content. Both plants were inoculated with P. syringae. By the end of incubation, the bacterial population on bean plants was about 100 times higher than that on oregano leaves. Scanning electron micrographs showed that bacterial growth on oregano leaves was confined to sites away from glandular hairs. Results from the bacterial colonization survey together with those from the toxicity tests showed that all species rich in antibacterial secondary metabolites harbored low leaf bacterial populations. These results provide substantial evidence that leaf secondary metabolites function as constitutive defense chemicals against microbial invasions. However, the fact that species with non- or moderately active leaf secondary metabolites are not always highly colonized suggests mediation of other unknown factors, the contribution of which requires further investigation.     

Chromium accumulation in submerged aquatic plants treated with tannery effluent at Kanpur, India

Aquatic macrophytes have been widely studied because of their capability of absorbing contaminants from water and their subsequent use in biomonitoring. This study presents a comparison of Cr accumulating potential of submerged aquatic plants viz Vallisneria spiralis and Hydrilla verticillata. These plants were treated with various concentrations of treated tannery effluent collected from UASB, Jajmau, Kanpur under repeated exposure in controlled laboratory conditions in order to assess their maximum bioaccumulation potential. The maximum accumulation of 385.6 and 201.6 microg g(-1) dry weight was found in roots of V. spiralis and the whole plants of H. verticillata, respectively at 100% concentration after 9th day of effluent exposure. The chlorophyll and protein content of both species decreased with increase in effluent concentration and duration. At highest concentration and duration a maximum reduction of 67.4 and 62.66% in total chlorophyll content, 9.97 and 4.66% in carotenoid content and 62.66 and 59.36% in protein content was found in V. spiralis and H. verticillata respectively. Anatomical studies in both V. spiralis and H. verticillata was carried out to assess the effects of metal accumulation within the plants. Changes in the anatomical structures of both plants exhibits the capacity of these species to act as indicator of effluent toxicity. The high accumulation potential of Cr by both plants revealed their capability to remove pollutants from effluent.     

8种植物叶片对城市大气苯并（a）芘（BaP）的吸收比较

城市化及汽车的发展导致城市大气中多环芳烃（PAHs）含量较高,强致癌作用污染物苯并（a）芘（BaP）含量也相应增高。植物是大气环境天然的过滤器,能滞留、吸附和累积空气中多种污染物。选择广州市8种常见行道树,4种乔木：红花羊蹄甲（Bauhiniablakeana）、腊肠树（Cassiafistula）、高山榕（Ficus...     

植物类脂的提取及对菲吸附的影响

讨论了有机溶剂极性对植物类脂提取的影响,分别采用(Ⅰ)非极性正己烷和(Ⅱ)极性三氯甲烷∶甲醇(2∶1)溶液从青椒和油麦菜干样中索氏提取植物类脂,进一步研究了上述植物干样、提取类脂和去类脂组分对菲的吸附.实验结果表明,两种方法提取得到的类脂含量不同,方法(Ⅰ)从青椒和油麦菜中提取得到类脂含量为(1.9±0.1)%和(5.0±0.4)%;而方法 (Ⅱ)提取得到的相应值分别为(2.6±0.2)%和(9.5±0.5)%.两种方法得到提取类脂对菲的吸附贡献无显著性差异(P>0.05),均约占整个青椒干样对菲吸附的20%,而油麦菜的这一比例约为60%.但采用正己烷提取可避免极性物质的析出而更好地分离类脂和去类脂组分.去类脂组分在青椒和油麦菜中对菲的吸附贡献分别约为80%和40%,即去类脂组分对菲仍有较强的吸附能力,因此不能简单视为碳水化合物.     

Secondary metabolites of the leaf surface affected by sulphur fertilisation and perceived by the cabbage root fly

Summary. Surrogate leaves treated with methanolic leaf surface extracts of Brassica napus L. (cv Express) plants that received three different sulphur fertilisation treatments showed even more marked differences by the oviposition choice of Delia radicum L. than the potted plants. This confirms that the oviposition preference of D. radicum is mediated by chemical compounds on the leaf surface and that the quality of host-plants in terms of their nutrition status can be perceived by the female insect.The oviposition data were positively correlated with the content of fractionated surface extracts containing either CIF (cabbage identification factor; 1,2-dehydro-3-thia- 4,10,10b-triaza-cyclopenta[.a.]fluorine-1-carboxylic acid) or glucosinolates. Electrophysiological recordings from the tarsal chemoreceptor sensilla C₅ and D_3,4 showed that receptor neurons react to glucosinolate- and CIF-fractions. We found that the chemosensory activity of specific glucosinolate- and CIF-receptor neurons corresponded with the respective behavioural activity in the oviposition choice assays. The responses of D. radicum to glucosinolates in the electrophysiological recordings studies corresponded to the observed oviposition preference on plants or artificial leaves characterised with an higher amount of glucosinolates on leave surfaces. The presented data suggested that CIF and glucosinolates are involved in host-plant preference of D. radicum and are perceived by tarsal chemoreceptors.     

Overlapping defense responses to water limitation and pathogen attack and their consequences for resistance to powdery mildew disease in garlic mustard, Alliaria petiolata

Plant responses to abiotic stress can alter their response to biotic stress. We examined changes in the activity of several defense proteins in response to powdery mildew infection of garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata) in the greenhouse and in the field. Second, we examined the effects of water limitation on the same defense protein responses, as well as on total soluble protein and glucose concentration, plant growth, and powdery mildew disease development. Similar increases in the activity of peroxidase, chitinase, and β-1-3-glucanase were observed in leaves of plants with substantial powdery mildew disease in both greenhouse- and field-grown plants. In the greenhouse, activities of chitinase and peroxidase as well as total soluble protein and glucose concentrations generally increased with the degree of water limitation. In turn, leaf growth and powdery mildew symptom development decreased as the degree of water limitation increased. This study revealed that plant chemical responses to water limitation and powdery mildew disease can overlap to a large extent, which, in addition to changing microenvironmental conditions and other indicators of plant quality, may underlie the ability of water limitation to inhibit powdery mildew disease symptom development in this wild plant pathosystem.     

Inhibition of decomposing leaf litter of Cinnamomum camphora on growth of Pharbitis nil and the alleviation effect of nitrogen application北大核心CSCD

In plant configuration of landscaping, herbaceous plant is often inter-planted with ornamental tree species. But unreasonable plant collocation may reduce the effectiveness of afforestation for the inhibition effect of tree on the growth of understory, and further more affect the greening effect. Camphor (Cinnamomum camphora) is widely planted in landscaping accompanying herbaceous plants including morning glory (Pharbitis nil). But camphor was reported to have allelopathic effect on its adjacent plant, therefore correct selection and collocation of plants has important significance to obtain good greening effect. This research aimed to study by a pot experiment the effects of decomposing leaf litter of Cinnamomum camphora on the growth, phenological traits of Pharbitis nil, as well as modification of these effects by nitrogen application. Three application rates of C. camphora leaf litter including 25, 50 and 100 g/pot (denoted by L25, L50 and L100, respectively) and a control (CK) were implemented. Nitrogen application began on the 34th d of decomposition, with 0.39 g urea being divided into three equal portions and added continuously to each pot. The results showed that (1) The height, basal diameter, leaf area and biomass production of Pharbitis nil were all inhibited sharply by exposure to the leaf litter, being decreased by 32.85%-83.78%, 5.23%-23.00%, 30.31%-58.47%, and 40.34%-84.54%, respectively, with the inhibition effect increasing both in intensity and stability with the increase of leaf litter. Such inhibition effect was obviously alleviated by exogenous nitrogen application. (2) The flowering dynamics of Pharbitis nil was greatly impacted by the leaf litter, with the flower initiation 2.5-10.0 d later and the flowering duration 6.3-11.4 d longer compared to the control. Although the leaf litter-treated plants exhibited more (0.5-3.3) flowers than the control, their quality decreased, and the hundred-grain weight of the seed decreased with the increase of leaf litter. However, the differences among treatments in the reproductive parameters mentioned above reduced after nitrogen fertilization. The results indicated that leaf litter of C. Camphora has a great allelopathic effect on morphological and reproductive growth of Pharbitis nil, which may be attributed to the release of phototoxic substances during the decomposition process.     

O3浓度升高对不同生长期冬小麦叶片抗氧化系统的影响

由于人口的快速增长,人类活动导致近地层O3浓度不断提高,O3浓度升高将对植物、动物和人体健康产生极大的危害.采用开顶式气室(OTC)原位实验方法,研究O3浓度升高对不同生长期冬小麦叶片抗氧化系统的影响,进而分析O3对植物的伤害机制.结果表明,O3浓度升高可导致冬小麦拔节期和抽穗期叶片超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化物酶...     

铜胁迫对两种地衣植物生理生化特征的影响

以中国树花（Ramalina sinensis Jatta.）和亚花松萝（Usnea subfloridana Stint.）为材料,研究了铜胁迫对这两种地衣植物生理生化特性的影响。结果表明：在Cu2＋的作用下,中国树花和亚花松萝体内叶绿素质量分数和过氧化物酶（POD）活性发生一系列的变化,且表现出明显的剂量效应关系和时间效应关系。随着处理浓度的加大和处理时间的延长,中国树花体内叶绿素质量分数呈现先降后升再降。在处理的48 h,当Cu2＋质量浓度为0.1 mg.mL-1时中国树花体内叶绿素a质量分数下降为0 mg.mL-1时的16.34%,叶绿素总质量分数下降为42.54%,而当Cu2＋质量浓度为0.5 mg.mL-1时叶绿素a质量分数下降为22.95%,叶绿素总质量分数下降为60.39%,亚花松萝体内叶绿素质量分数呈现先升后降的趋势,当Cu2＋质量浓度为0.1 mg.mL-1时,处理48 h后的亚花松萝体内叶绿素质量分数比36 h下降18.82%;当Cu2＋质量浓度为0.5 mg.mL-1时,处理48 h后的亚花松萝体内叶绿素质量分数比36 h下降23.52%。随着处理浓度的加大和处理时间的延长,中国树花过氧化物酶活性呈现上升的趋势,当Cu2＋质量浓度为0.1 mg.mL-1时,处理24、36、48 h后过氧化物酶的活性分别增加为88.1%、64.83%和65.49%;当Cu2＋质量浓度为0.5 mg.mL-1时,分别增加为69.83%、82.05%和82.57%。而亚花松萝过氧化物酶活性呈现先下降后上升等波动性变化,Cu2＋质量浓度为0.1 mg.mL-1时,处理24、36、48 h后过氧化物酶的活性先下降62.56%,后增加7.93%,又下降42.28%;当Cu2＋质量浓度为0.5 mg.mL-1时,比对照组分别下降72.92%、33.49%和62.56%。对比两种地衣植物发现,中国树花体内生理指标的变化较亚花松萝的明显,说明中国树花对铜胁迫反应较敏感,有利于监测重金属铜污染。     

Effects of Population Size, Mating System, and Evolutionary Origin on Genetic Diversity in Spiranthes sinensis and S. hongkongensis

Hong Kong once supported more than 109 species of wild orchids, of which approximately 30% were endemic. Most of the local wild orchids have now become rare or endangered. I conducted a comparative study of genetic diversity in two closely related terrestrial orchids, an allotetraploid, Spiranthes hongkongensis , and its diploid progenitor, S. sinensis , to assess the effects of the population bottleneck associated with the origin of the polyploid and to investigate the relationships between number of breeding individuals, mating system, and level of isozyme variation in their populations. Nearly complete genetic uniformity was observed both within and among populations of S. hongkongensis . In contrast, S. sinensis had high levels of genetic variation for all of the genetic parameters examined. Regression analysis of population size and several components of genetic diversity in S. sinensis revealed that, among various measures of within-population variation, the proportion of polymorphic loci ( P ) and average number of alleles per locus ( A ) or per polymorphic locus ( A _p ) were the most sensitive to population size ( R ² = 0.942, p = 0.001; R ² = 0.932, p = 0.002; and R ² = 0.923, p = 0.002 respectively). The highly negative correlation ( r = −0.999, p < 0.01) between population size and the mean frequency of private alleles in pairwise population comparisons, p (1), indicated that population size may also be used to predict the extent of population differentiation caused by random genetic drift. Conservation of genetic diversity in S. sinensis could be maximized by protecting several of both large and small populations, whereas fewer populations may be needed to achieve this goal for S. hongkongensis.     

Jasmonic acid treatment and mammalian herbivory differentially affect chemical defenses and growth of wild mustard (Brassica kaber)

Summary. Jasmonic acid (JA) is a wound-related hormone found in most plants that, when applied exogenously, can induce increases in levels of chemical defenses in patterns similar to those induced by mechanical damage or insect feeding. Relative to responses to insect and pathogen attack, chemical responses of herbaceous plants to mammalian herbivore attack have been little studied. In a field experiment, we compared the effects of JA treatment and naturally occurring mammalian herbivory on the expression of trypsin inhibitors, glucosinolates, peroxidase activity and growth of wild mustard (Brassica kaber). Exogenous JA significantly increased trypsin inhibitor activity and glucosinolate concentration, and moderately increased peroxidase activity in the eighth true leaves of five-week-old plants, relative to untreated controls. In contrast, levels of these chemical defenses in the eighth true leaves or in regrowth foliage of plants that had ∼80% of their leaf area removed by groundhogs (Marmota monax) did not differ from that in undamaged and untreated controls. Although exogenous JA significantly elevated levels of chemical defenses, it did not affect height of plants through the season and only slightly reduced time to first flower. Groundhog herbivory significantly reduced height and delayed or abolished flowering, but these effects were not substantial unless coupled with apical meristem removal. We hypothesize that the lack of effect of groundhog herbivory on chemical defenses may be due in part to the speed and pattern of leaf area removal by groundhogs, or physiological constraints caused by leaf area loss. Despite having no effect on chemical defense production, leaf area loss by groundhogs was more costly to growth and fitness than the effects of JA application in this study, but only substantially so if coupled with apical meristem removal. We suggest that in general, costs of defense production in plants are likely to be minimal when compared to the risk of losing large amounts of leaf area or primary meristematic tissue. Thus, if they are effective at deterring herbivory, the benefits of inducible defense production likely outweigh the costs in most cases. Received 20 December 2000; accepted 3 May 2001     

16种室内观赏植物对甲醛净化效果及生理生化变化

采用气体密封舱熏气法模拟居室装修后的甲醛污染环境,对16种常见室内观赏植物进行甲醛熏气处理,以熏气12h后植物单位叶面积吸收甲醛的量作为指标评价了不同植物对甲醛气体的净化能力,同时测定了熏气后植物的外观形态变化和叶片的SPAD值、相对电导率、丙二醛含量及POD活性等指标。结果显示,被测植物在一定程度上均可以有效吸收甲醛,单位面积吸收量从大到小依次为香石竹（Dianthus caryophyllus）、瑞典常春藤（Lsodon amethystoides）、蚊净香草（Saivia spp.）、比利时杜鹃（Rhododendron hybrida）、柠檬（Citrus limon）、袖珍椰子（Chamaedorea elegans）、龟背竹（Monstera deliciosa）、冷水花（Pilea cadierei）、长寿花（Kalanchoe blossfeldiana）、‘粉冠军’（Anthurium spp.）、巢蕨（Neottopteris nidus）、吊竹梅（Zebrina pendula）、栀子花（Gardenia jasminoides var.grandiflora）、百合竹（Dracaena reflex）、口红花（Aeschynanthus radicans）、孔雀竹芋（Calathea makoyana）。不同植物在甲醛熏气后表现出不同程度的受害反应和生理生化指标的变化,综合分析结果表明香石竹、瑞典常春藤、蚊净香草、袖珍椰子、冷水花、巢蕨等对甲醛的综合净化能力和抗性较好。     

Dealing with double trouble: consequences of single and double herbivory in Brassica juncea

In their natural environment, plants are often attacked simultaneously by many insect species. The specificity of induced plant responses that is reported after single herbivore attacks may be compromised under double herbivory and this may influence later arriving herbivores. The present study focuses on the dynamics of induced plant responses induced by single and double herbivory, and their effects on successive herbivores. Morphological (leaf length, area and trichome density) and chemical changes (leaf alkenyl and indole glucosinolates) in Brassica juncea were evaluated 4, 10, 14 and 20 days after damage by the specialist Plutella xylostella alone, or together with the generalist Spodoptera litura. To assess the biological effect of the plant’s responses, the preference and performance of both herbivores on previously induced plants were measured. We found that alkenyl glucosinolates were induced 20 days after damage by P. xylostella alone, whereas their levels were elevated as early as 4 days after double herbivory. Trichome density was increased in both treatments, but was higher after double herbivory. Interestingly, there was an overall decrease in indole glucosinolates and an increase in leaf size due to damage by P. xylostella, which was not observed during double damage. S. litura preferred and performed better on undamaged plants, whereas P. xylostella preferred damaged plants and performed better on plants damaged 14 and 10 days after single and double herbivory, respectively. Our results suggest that temporal studies involving single versus multiple attacker situations are necessary to comprehend the role of induced plant responses in plant–herbivore interactions.     

Sequestration of cucurbitacin analogs by New and Old World chrysomelid leaf beetles in the tribe Luperini

Summary Two South American polyphagous leaf beetles,Diabrotica speciosa andCerotoma arcuata, selectively accumulated the bitter tasting compound 23,24-dihydrocucurbitacin D in their body after ingesting root tissues of cucurbit plants. Similarly, three Asian Cucurbitaceae-feeding specialists in the genusAulacophora were found to sequester the same compound. Cucurbitacin analogs were shown to deter feeding by a bird predator, indicating an allomonal role for these compounds in cucurbitacin-associated chrysomelid leaf beetles both of New and Old Worlds. The strong affinity to cucurbitacins, selective sequestration of the analogs and consequent protection from predators suggested an ecological adaptation mechanism developed in common among these two geographically isolated subtribes in the Luperini.