![]() Female leaf-rolling weevils roll plant leaves to form a what is called a “cradle.” Eggs are laid in the cradle, and the hatched larvae feed on the leaves inside the cradle and grow into adults. In particular, I am investigating the relationship between the leaf-rolling weevil, a plant-eating beetle, and the shapes of leaves. My lab studies mainly insect-plant interactions. While some studies support this hypothesis, others contradict it, so further research progress is hoped for.įor leaf-rolling weevils, leaf shapes determine their usability The latter theory particularly presents the interesting idea that autumn leaves may have evolved through interactions with insects, but that remains to be verified. Aphids, for example, not only suck on leaves but can also transmit viruses, so they need to be kept away as much as possible. This is especially true for insects such as aphids, which migrate to trees in autumn to lay overwintering eggs, which hatch in the spring and cause damage. The red color is a sign to tell insects to stay away because the leaves contain a lot of defensive substances or are not nutritious, etc., and nothing good will come out of eating them. The second hypothesis as to why leaves turn red is to warn plant-eating insects. Since anthocyanins absorb short-wavelength light, they are thought to moderate the amount of incoming light, like a parasol. Anthocyanins may be synthesized to prevent this and promote the translocation of nutrients from the leaves to the trunk. Excess light on leaves with reduced photosynthetic activity due to chlorophyll breakdown can cause cell damage and early leaf drop. The first is to protect the leaves from excessive light. Incidentally, ginkgo leaves turn yellow because the carotenoid pigments, originally contained in the leaves, become more prominent as chlorophyll decreases.įor what purpose do the leaves turn red? And what is the purpose of synthesizing anthocyanins? Here, I would like to address two hypotheses. In trees such as the Japanese maple, chlorophyll is broken down in autumn when the weather turns cold, while anthocyanin pigment is synthesized, giving the leaves their reddish color. Leaves contain chlorophyll, the green pigment, which is vital for photosynthesis. Assistant Professor, Graduate School of Science Ecology
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