Researchers have recently revealed the genetic basis of camouflage in Corydalis hemidicentra, an alpine plant and its long-lasting co-evolution with an insect herbivore.Growing on the rocky slopes of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, Corydalis hemidicentra exists in two distinct kinds & one with regular green leaves, and another with rocky-gray leaves that blend perfectly into the surrounding stones.The research team discovered that the gray-leaved alternative produces higher levels of anthocyanins & pigments that trigger reddish, purple, or dark greyish shades & boosting its camouflage.Decade-long field experiments have shown that this natural camouflage helps the plant evade herbivory from Parnassius butterfly caterpillars, according to Liu Jianquan, a professor at the College of Ecology, Lanzhou University.Demographic analyses over the previous 500 years show that plant populations with camouflage have actually stayed more stable than those with just green leaves.
On the other hand, Parnassius butterfly populations have actually declined in locations where camouflaged plants dominate.These findings shed light on the hereditary mechanisms behind plant camouflage and its potential function in the moving dynamics of plant-herbivore interactions.The study was recently released in the Nature Ecology - Evolution journal.