Ultraviolet B-light (UV-B) can exert indirect effects on plant-herbivore interactions by inducing changes in constitutive and induced chemical defenses, since it modulates physiological aspects of plants. This study evaluated the action of UV-B radiation on photosynthesis and production of secondary metabolites in Nymphoides humboldtiana and the cascade effects on the relationship of this macrophyte with a generalist herbivore, the gastropod mollusk Biomphalaria glabrata. After 13 days of UV-B exposition under laboratory conditions, the floating macrophyte N. humboldtiana responded increasing its photosynthetic potential and the production of flavonoids with a correlated enhance in antioxidant activity. However, these changes observed in its metabolism were not enough to alter their palatability to consumption by B. glabrata verified through laboratory feeding choice experiments. Despite the known deleterious effects of exposure to UV-B on terrestrial plants, we found that N. humboldtiana does have physiological/biochemical mechanisms as a strategy or restorative response to this potencially adverse or impacting agent without changing its relationships with herbivores.

Ultraviolet B-light (UV-B) can exert indirect effects on plant-herbivore interactions by inducing changes in constitutive and induced chemical defenses, since it modulates physiological aspects of plants. This study evaluated the action of UV-B radiation on photosynthesis and production of secondary metabolites in Nymphoides humboldtiana and the cascade effects on the relationship of this macrophyte with a generalist herbivore, the gastropod mollusk Biomphalaria glabrata. After 13 days of UV-B exposition under laboratory conditions, the floating macrophyte N. humboldtiana响应增加其光合作用潜力和黄酮类化合物的产生与抗氧化活性的相关增强。然而，这些代谢变化观察到的不足以改变它们的适口性，以通过实验室进食选择实验验证的光滑芽孢杆菌消费。尽管已知UV-B暴露会对陆生植物产生有害影响，但我们发现洪堡猪笼草确实具有生理/生化机制，作为对该潜在有害或影响剂的策略或修复性响应，而没有改变其与草食动物的关系。