Constitutive and herbivore-induced systemic volatiles differentially attract an omnivorous biocontrol agent to contrasting Salix clones.

While carnivores are known to be attracted to herbivore-induced plant volatiles, little is known about how such volatiles may affect the behaviour of omnivorous predators that may use both plants and herbivores as food. Here, we examine how systemically produced plant volatiles, in response to local herbivore damage, differentially attract a key omnivorous predator, Anthocoris nemorum (Heteroptera: Anthocoridae), to single clones of three species of Salix: S. viminalis, S.

Performance of an herbivorous leaf beetle (Phratora vulgatissima) on Salix F2 hybrids: the importance of phenolics.

The genotype of the plant determines, through the expression of the phenotype, how well it is suited as food for herbivores. Since hybridization often results in profound genomic alterations with subsequent changes in phenotypic traits, it has the potential to significantly affect plant-herbivore interactions. In this study, we used a population of F2 hybrids that originated from a cross between a Salix viminalis and a Salix dasyclados genotype, which differed in both phenolic content and resistance to the herbivorous leaf beetle Phratora vulgatissima.

Swedish farmers attitudes, expectations and fears in relation to growing genetically modified crops.

This study evaluates a survey about Swedish farmers' attitude towards genetically modified (GM) crops, and their perception concerning potential benefits and drawbacks that cropping of an insect resistant (IR) GM variety would involve. The questions were "tick a box" choices, included in a yearly omnibus survey sent to 1000 Swedish farmers (68% response rate). The results showed that a majority of the farmers were negative, although almost one third claimed to be neutral to GM crops.

Does pea lectin expressed transgenically in oilseed rape (Brassica napus) influence honey bee (Apis mellifera) larvae?

The European honey bee (Apis mellifera) is important both for pollination and for honey production. Pollen is the major protein source for bees, which exposes them directly to changes in pollen quality e.g.