Do flood stressed maize plants offer better food for insect herbivores? A test for plant stress hypothesis

The plant stress hypothesis predicts that if plants are under stress, the plant quality for herbivores insects increases due to increased nutritional availability or decrease in the plant defensive compounds. This hypothesis provides a predictive framework for investigating how environmental stressors can affect plant and insect interactions. To date, studies testing the validity of predictions of this hypothesis in emerging abiotic stressors such as flooding are still limited. To fill in this knowledge gap, this study tested the validity of theory predictions by examining the effects of flooding on maize (Zea mays) plant growth, chemistry, nutritional quality, and herbivore (fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda) growth and performance. Metabolic profiling was carried out to further explain mechanisms underpinning differential herbivore growth and performance patterns. Results reveal how flooding stress induced alterations can have ecological consequences for plant-insect interactions. Together, results from this study can assist in advancing pest management decisions post flooding.