Examining the validity of plant stress hypothesis in tomato plants recovering from flooding

Insect herbivores and plants develop complex, long standing relationships that are mediated by their environment. Climate change is rapidly increasing the frequency and intensity of abiotic stressors that modify the plant physiology and nutritional quality, which in turn affects the development of their insect pests. The plant stress hypothesis predicts that plants exposed to stress offer better quality food for insect herbivores. However, the evidence to support the merit of this hypothesis in emerging abiotic stress like flooding is still currently unclear. In order to fill this knowledge gap, this study tested the validity of this hypothesis by investigating the growth and performance of Spodoptera Exigua (Beet Armyworm) feeding on plants recovering from flooding. Metabolite profiling and C:N ratio determination was done to comprehensively explain varying growth rates of herbivores. Results demonstrate how flooding stress induced alterations have ecological consequences within plant-insect interactions. Holistically, results from this study can be incorporated when developing novel pest management strategies amid increasing flooding events.