Summary of most significant findingsĀ Clonal plants can share environmental information among ramets, but little is known about how signals for induced resistance (IR) to herbivores move among clonal networks. Signals can move via vascular (internal, private communication) or airborne pathways (volatile, public communication). We studied IR signaling in Solanum dulcamara, a clonal vine with documented IR to some herbivores. We tested both vascular and volatile signaling of herbivory by damaging stems via larval feeding and then comparing resistance levels using bioassays with generalists of damaged, undamaged connected, and undamaged unconnected ramets. We documented some IR across two experiments. We observed neither internal nor volatile communication of damage, as we did not detect IR in undamaged ramets. Genotypes also varied in their inducibility after damage. Our results could occur if interramet competition for resources favors limited signaling among ramets. Alternatively, IR may be stronger, and more strongly communicated, when specialist herbivores cause damage.
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