Does tropical soda apple (Solanum viarum) mediate interations between Gratiana boliviana, Spodoptera exigua or Frankliniella occidentalis via induced resistance?

Plant mediated competition among insects herbivores occurs when one species induces changes in plant chemistry nutrition, or morphology that renders plants resistant to attack by others. Plant mediated interspecific interaction between the tortoise beetle (Gratiana boliviana), beet army worm (Spodoptera exigua) and western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis) were explored on tropical soda apple (TSA) Solanum viarum. The consequences of tortoise beetle induced resistance for beet army worm and thrips performance were studied in a growth chambers and field cages. The specific objectives were to determine if previous feeding by tortoise beetle have adverse effects on and thrips, resulting in reduced oviposition, preference for induced foliage, decreased performance (larval development time and adult body mass) and survival on induced foliage. This research is expected to provide more information on TSA mediated competition among insect herbivores and the impact of this competition to TSA as a host/reservoir to crop pests and crop disease vectors.