Plasticity for the win: Flexible transcriptional response to host plant switches in the comma butterfly (Polygonia c-album).

Schneider K, Steward RA, Celorio-Mancera MP, Janz N, Moberg D, Wheat CW, Nylin S

Mol. Ecol. 33 (16) e17479 [2024-08-00; online 2024-07-22]

Generalist plant-feeding insects are characterised by a broad host repertoire that can comprise several families or even different orders of plants. The genetic and physiological mechanisms underlying the use of such a wide host range are still not fully understood. Earlier studies indicate that the consumption of different host plants is associated with host-specific gene expression profiles. It remained, however, unclear if and how larvae can alter these profiles in the case of a changing host environment. Using the polyphagous comma butterfly (Polygonia c-album) we show that larvae can adjust their transcriptional profiles in response to a new host plant. The switch to some of the host plants, however, resulted in a larger transcriptional response and, thus, seems to be more challenging. At a physiological level, no correspondence for these patterns could be found in larval performance. This suggests that a high transcriptional but also phenotypic flexibility are essential for the use of a broad and diverse host range. We furthermore propose that host switch tests in the laboratory followed by transcriptomic investigations can be a valuable tool to examine not only plasticity in host use but also subtle and/or transient trade-offs in the evolution of host plant repertoires.

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PubMed 39036890

DOI 10.1111/mec.17479

Crossref 10.1111/mec.17479