Terrestrial arthropods broadly possess endogenous phytohormones auxin and cytokinins

Abstract

Some herbivorous insects possess the ability to synthesize phytohormones and are considered to use them for manipulating their host plants, but how these insects acquired the ability remains unclear. We investigated endogenous levels of auxin (IAA) and cytokinins (iP and tZ), including their ribosides (iPR and tZR), in various terrestrial arthropod taxa. Surprisingly, IAA was detected in all arthropods analysed. In contrast, tZ and/or tZR was detected only in some taxa. Endogenous levels of IAA were not significantly different among groups with different feeding habits, but gall inducers possessed significantly higher levels of iPR, tZ and tZR. Ancestral state reconstruction of the ability to synthesize tZ and tZR revealed that the trait has only been acquired in taxa containing gall inducers. Our results strongly suggest critical role of the cytokinin synthetic ability in the evolution of gall-inducing habit and IAA has some function in arthropods.