Ratio of Nutrient and Minerals to Defensive Compounds Indicative of Plant Quality and Tolerance to Herbivory in Pear Trees

Abstract

ABSTRACT The phenolic ester 3-0-trans-p-coumaroyltormentic acid and the volatile compounds (E,E)-α-farnesene and methyl salicylate have been identified previously in pear tree cultivars ‘Bartlett,’ ‘NY10355,’ and ‘Conference.’ Here, using the same dried extract of leaf samples, the contents of total protein, chlorophyll, and the minerals calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), sodium (Na), carbon (C), and nitrogen (N) were determined. Differences between pear cultivars were found with regard to their absolute content in Ca, K, chlorophyll, and total protein, and to carbon/nitrogen values in uninfested leaves compared with leaves infested by Cacopsylla pyricola (Foester) and C. pyri L. (Homoptera, Psyllidae) on partially and completely infested trees. The ratio of nutrients and minerals to the constitutive and Cacopsylla-induced phenolic and two volatiles reflects a diminution of the leaf quality as food for Cacopsylla nymphs in infested leaves of all cultivars. In uninfested leaves, the magnitude of this ratio in partially infested trees of cv. ‘Conference’ with local response, together with Ca ion content and chlorophyll loss, point to classification of this cultivar as tolerant to herbivory.