fruitset

To determine the effects of herbivory on fruit set, we experimentally manipulated damage on 39 pairs of plants. On one plant in each pair we selected and bagged two branches with inflorescences at the bud stage that were at approximately the same size, phenological stage, and height on the plant. One of the branches received herbivore damage where one individual of Z. selenesii was placed inside the bag for three days to consume the leaves. In order to prevent the grasshopper from eating the inflorescence, the inflorescence was covered with a second bag during the three days the herbivore was feeding. The damaged branch was subsequently used to measure locally-induced responses to herbivory. The second branch of the same shrub was bagged in the same manner but received no damage and was used to measure systemically-induced responses to herbivory. The second plant in each pair served as an absolute control in which a single branch that was approximately the same size and height was bagged in the same way without placing any herbivore on the plant. After the three-day herbivore treatments, we removed the grasshoppers and the bags and allowed natural pollinator visitation to the inflorescences. We counted the total number of flowers that were aborted and the number that successfully set fruit. The first column (replica) show the number of the replica. The second column shows the treatment of the branch. The third column shows the number of fruit that was developed in the branch. the fourth column shows the number of flowers in the branch. the fifth column shows the fruit set (proportion of flowers that becomes in fruits)