Grasshopper feeding bioassay for plant defense

Knowledge graph centered on Grasshopper feeding bioassay for plant defense with 74 nodes and 176 connections. Top connected: Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory, Gothic, Beetles, Larkspurs, Colorado East River Valley.

Method synopsis

Choice feeding trials where individual grasshoppers are offered leaves from different plant treatments to measure relative herbivory rates. Herbivory is quantified by measuring leaf area consumed using image analysis.

Synthesized from method descriptions across 18 papers using this protocol.

Procedure from a recent peer-reviewed implementation

Steps below were extracted from the most recent peer-reviewed implementation of this protocol in the corpus — Pre- and post-ingestive defenses affect larval feeding on a lethal invasive host plant (2019), Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata. The protocol was originally introduced by Biotic factors influencing feeding preferences of <i>Scaptomyza nigrita</i> (Drosphilidae) on its host plant, <i>Cardamine cordifolia</i> (Brassicaceae) (2011). Implementations in other papers (listed below) may differ.

1. Sinigrin solution preparation and application
   Painted excised leaves with 0.0564 M sinigrin solution (sinigrin hydrate, >99% purity; Sigma Aldrich) to add 50 μmol of dry leaf mass, estimated by standard curve for T. arvense, C. cordifolia, and D. incana. Painted leaves weighed before application. Control leaves painted with distilled-water
   Quantities: 0.0564 M sinigrin concentration, 50 μmol g⁻¹ dry weight target, >99% purity sinigrin hydrateDuration: Single application before feeding trialsConditions: Laboratory conditions
   Equipment: 0.0564 M sinigrin solution, sinigrin hydrate, distilled water, weighing equipment
2. Survival monitoring
   Larvae from sinigrin addition assay kept in individual Petri dishes under same growth chamber conditions as adults. Larvae remained in individual dishes, larval survival assessed every 24 h up to 144 h. Replaced leaves every other day during monitoring period
   Quantities: Individual larvae in separate Petri dishes, observations every 24 hoursDuration: 144 hours total (6 days) with daily monitoringConditions: Same growth chamber conditions as adult care
   Equipment: Petri dishes, fresh leaves for replacement

Typical Equipment

• arenas
• Gothic Research Center
• Weather-Port
• camera
• ImageJ software

Output Measurements

• leaf area consumed
• herbivory rate
• feeding preference

Papers Using This Protocol (18)

Species Studied With This Protocol

Places Where Used