Impacts of Cultivar and Mycorrhizal Colonization on Acrobasis vaccinii Infestation and Herbivory Damage in Vaccinium corymbosum
Conference Year
January 2021
Abstract
Mycorrhizal colonization is known to convey numerous benefits to plants, often helping with nutrient uptake and improving responses to herbivory. This study seeks to examine the influences of mycorrhizal colonization on the relationship between Acrobasis vaccinii (cranberry fruitworm: Lepidoptera) and Vaccinium corymbosum (highbush blueberry). A. vaccinii is a frugivore during its larval stage that imparts significant damage to Ericaceae fruit crops (blueberry, cranberry, etc.). The details of the relationship between pest and host are largely understudied in blueberries and have not been linked to belowground interactions with ericoid mycorrhizae. This study will report observational results detailing the impacts of colonization and cultivar on infestation and larval success. Additionally, the fitness effects of infestation will be illustrated, giving additional insight into a largely understudied system.
Primary Faculty Mentor Name
Alison Brody
Status
Undergraduate
Student College
College of Arts and Sciences
Program/Major
Biology
Primary Research Category
Biological Sciences
Impacts of Cultivar and Mycorrhizal Colonization on Acrobasis vaccinii Infestation and Herbivory Damage in Vaccinium corymbosum
Mycorrhizal colonization is known to convey numerous benefits to plants, often helping with nutrient uptake and improving responses to herbivory. This study seeks to examine the influences of mycorrhizal colonization on the relationship between Acrobasis vaccinii (cranberry fruitworm: Lepidoptera) and Vaccinium corymbosum (highbush blueberry). A. vaccinii is a frugivore during its larval stage that imparts significant damage to Ericaceae fruit crops (blueberry, cranberry, etc.). The details of the relationship between pest and host are largely understudied in blueberries and have not been linked to belowground interactions with ericoid mycorrhizae. This study will report observational results detailing the impacts of colonization and cultivar on infestation and larval success. Additionally, the fitness effects of infestation will be illustrated, giving additional insight into a largely understudied system.