Elevated CO2 Levels Impact Fitness Traits of Vine Mealybug Planococcus ficus Signoret, but Not Its Parasitoid Leptomastix dactylopii Howard

Maria Schulze-Sylvester,Annette Reineke

doi:10.3390/agronomy9060326

Maria Schulze-Sylvester, Annette Reineke

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy9060326

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Abstract

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is one of the primary factors driving climate change impacts on plants, pests, and natural enemies. The present study reports the effects of different atmospheric CO2 concentrations on the vine mealybug Planococcus ficus (Signoret) and its parasitoid wasp Leptomastix dactylopii (Howard). We investigated the life-history parameters of both species on grapevine Vitis vinifera (L.) plants grown under elevated (eCO2) and ambient (aCO2) CO2 levels in a greenhouse and in a vineyard free-air carbon dioxide enrichment (FACE) facility. The greenhouse experiments with an eCO2 level of around 800 ppm showed a significant increase in survival rates, a strong trend towards declining body size, and an increasing fecundity of female mealybugs, while fertility and development time did not change. However, none of these parameters were altered by different CO2 concentrations in the VineyardFACE facility (eCO2 level around 450 ppm). On the other hand, the parasitism success, development time and sex ratio of L. dactylopii, reared on P. ficus under eCO2 or aCO2, varied neither in the greenhouse nor in the FACE facility. These results suggest that future CO2 levels might cause small-scale changes in vine mealybug fitness; however, this is not necessarily reflected by parasitoid performance.

Highlights

Atmospheric CO2 levels are on the rise, with the latest reports published by the IntergovernmentalPanel on Climate change (IPCC) reporting an increase of 20 ppm per decade, resulting in an increase of over 35% since pre-industrial times
The present study aims to investigate the effects of elevated CO2 on the performance of L. dactylopii and its host, the vine mealybug, reared on grapevine plants in an free-air carbon dioxide enrichment (FACE) system and in the greenhouse
While the present study observed a decreasing mealybug body size with the duration of the eCO2 treatment, we found that elevated CO2 levels were positively related to survival, but development time, fertility and fecundity were not significantly affected

Summary

Introduction

Atmospheric CO2 levels are on the rise, with the latest reports published by the IntergovernmentalPanel on Climate change (IPCC) reporting an increase of 20 ppm per decade, resulting in an increase of over 35% since pre-industrial times. Atmospheric CO2 levels are on the rise, with the latest reports published by the Intergovernmental. Current atmospheric CO2 levels are close to 400 ppm, and this value is expected to double by the end of this century [1]. Most C3 plants increase their photosynthesis rates and primary production [2,3]. This applies to grapevine plants (Vitis vinifera L.). Bindi et al [4] noted that atmospheric CO2 enrichment stimulated grapevine growth and enhanced fruit and total biomass. Stimulated growth and yield, as well as enhanced stomatal conductance and transpiration, under elevated CO2 , were reported from a vineyard free-air carbon dioxide enrichment (FACE) facility in Geisenheim, Germany [5]

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