We investigated feeding and fecundity of the two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Tetranychidae), on leaves of cucumber (Cucumis sativus) seedlings that had been acclimatized to different light intensities. Based on these data, we analyzed the relationships between mite performance (feeding and fecundity) and leaf properties. The cucumber seedlings were grown in controlled-environment chambers under different light intensities at a photosynthetic photon flux density of 50, 100, 150, 300, or 450 µmol m^− 2 s^− 1 until the first true leaves had expanded. Adult females were released on the adaxial surfaces of excised leaf samples from the seedlings of each treatment group and held under standardized light intensity (200 µmol m^− 2 s^− 1). Fecundity and leaf damage area increased and decreased, respectively, as the acclimatization light intensity increased, indicating indirect effects of light intensity on feeding and fecundity through changes in the host leaf properties. Leaf mass per area (LMA) and photosynthetic capacity, which increased as the acclimatization light intensity increased, was positively related to the fecundity, but was negatively related to the leaf damage area. The higher LMA and photosynthetic capacity results in an increased amount of mesophyll per unit leaf area. This would allow the mites to feed efficiently from a limited area, which may explain the increased fecundity on these leaves.

中文翻译：

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光照强度通过寄主黄瓜叶片的响应影响红腹轮虫（Actran：Tetranychidae）的摄食和繁殖力。

我们调查了已经适应了不同光强度的黄瓜（Cucumis sativus）幼苗上的两点叶螨Tetranychus urticae（Acari：Tetranychidae）的摄食和繁殖力。根据这些数据，我们分析了螨的性能（进食和繁殖力）与叶片特性之间的关系。黄瓜幼苗在不同光强度的控制环境室中以50、100、150、300或450μmolm ^-2 s ^-1的光合光子通量密度生长直到第一片真叶张开。成年雌性在每个处理组的幼苗的离体叶片样品的近轴表面上释放，并保持在标准光强度（200 µmol m ^-2 s ^-1）。随着驯化光强度的增加，繁殖力和叶片受损面积分别增加和减少，这表明光照强度通过宿主叶片特性的变化间接影响摄食和繁殖力。叶面积质量（LMA）和光合能力随适应光强度的增加而增加，与繁殖力成正相关，而与叶片受损面积成负相关。较高的LMA和光合作用能力导致每单位叶面积的叶肉量增加。这将使螨从有限的区域有效地觅食，这可能解释了这些叶子上繁殖力的增加。