Allelochemicals in foliage of unfavored tree hosts of the gypsy moth,Lymantria dispar L. : 1. Alkaloids and other components ofLiriodendron tulipifera L. (Magnoliaceae),Acer rubrum L. (Aceraceae), andCornus florida L. (Cornaceae)

Abstract

Early theories on plant chemical defense against herbivory emphasized that apparent and unapparent plants were primarily defended by different types of compounds. More and more evidence suggests that both quantitative and qualitative defenses are found in apparent plants and that they can play a defensive role against herbivores. A survey of the literature on the gypsy moth suggests not only that there is a large variety of qualitative compounds, as well as the expected quantitative ones, but that unfavored hosts of the gypsy moth are associated with the presence of alkaloids. Foliage of three tree species,Liriodendron tulipifera L.,Acer rubrum L., andCornus florida L., was examined to confirm the presence of alkaloids and other major secondary metabolites. The known sesquiterpene lactone, lipiferolide, and the sugar derivative, liriodendritol, were components ofL. tulipifera leaves, along with a bisphenylpropanoid previously found only in nutmeg. Alkaloid content [i.e., (-)-N-methylcrotsparine content] was low and leaves tested positive for HCN. Leaves ofA. rubrum L. were examined for the presence of gramme, but none could be detected. No alkaloids were detected inCornus florida.