Double Trouble: The Impact of Water Availability on Plant-Insect Interactions in Rorippa Plant Species

Summary

The aim of this thesis was to elucidate the influence of water availability on plant responses to insect herbivory, extending beyond direct impacts to encompass broader ecological consequences. To achieve this, a comparative approach was adopted, focusing on closely related wild plant species within the Rorippa genus that grow in different habitats along a water gradient. This approach aimed to establish connections between plant adaptations to- and the impact of water conditions on interactions between plants and insects.

A diverse array of techniques, including transcriptomics, metabolomics, analysis of insect behavior and performance, was employed to unveil the distinct responses of differently adapted plants to herbivory under varying water conditions. By delving into the repercussions of double trouble on diverse wild plants, this study offers crucial fundamental insights into how wild plants thrive in complex, multi-stress, environments. Such understanding is crucial for predicting the repercussions of climate change on ecosystems and bolstering agricultural resilience.