Meta-Analysis of the Effects of Endophytes and Their Secondary Metabolites on Herbivory From Insects

Author

Derrick TaylorFollow

Date of Award

5-2023

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Plant and Environmental Science

Committee Chair/Advisor

Haibo Liu

Committee Member

Juang Chong

Committee Member

Dilrukshi Thavarajah

Abstract

Endophyte-infected plants have reduced the level of herbivory. The defense to herbivory can vary due to the metabolites in the plant and the method of feeding from the pest. Secondary metabolites produced by the endophytes are mainly alkaloids. The associations between endophytes and some alkaloid groups are studied in greater detail. The lack of research of certain alkaloid groups ultimately means that some alkaloids had more data that could be analyzed. As a result, the alkaloid groups were not evenly represented in the meta-analysis. The meta-analysis analyzed the relative effectiveness of the metabolites or endophytes in each of the articles reviewed. Relative effectiveness was calculated by dividing the treatment value by the control and subtracting that from one. Relative effectiveness ranged from 0 (no effect) to 1 (high relative effectiveness). By using the meta-analysis, a correlation between secondary metabolites and their effect on herbivory would be presented. The meta-analysis consisted of three important and most commonly documented life history parameters of insects, namely; general survival, food consumption, and end weight. The relative effectiveness showed that the survival was most significantly decreased by the metabolite. This was then followed by the decrease of the weight of the pest. Food consumption was not affected by the metabolites generally, but in some cases, it increased with the type of metabolites present.

Recommended Citation

Taylor, Derrick, "Meta-Analysis of the Effects of Endophytes and Their Secondary Metabolites on Herbivory From Insects" (2023). All Theses. 4032.
https://open.clemson.edu/all_theses/4032