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Molecular analysis of poplar defense against herbivory: comparison of wound‐ and insect elicitor‐induced gene expression
Author(s) -
Major Ian T.,
Constabel C. Peter
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
new phytologist
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.742
H-Index - 244
eISSN - 1469-8137
pISSN - 0028-646X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-8137.2006.01877.x
Subject(s) - elicitor , biology , gene , insect , plant defense against herbivory , gene expression , secondary metabolism , defence mechanisms , botany , microbiology and biotechnology , genetics , biosynthesis
Summary• In order to characterize defense responses of hybrid poplar ( Populus trichocarpa × P. deltoides ), we profiled leaf transcript patterns elicited by wounding and by regurgitant from forest tent caterpillar (FTC; Malacosoma disstria ), a Lepidopteran defoliator of poplars. • Macroarrays were used to compare transcript profiles. Both FTC‐regurgitant (FTC‐R) and mechanical wounding with pliers elicited expression of a variety of genes, and for these genes our analysis indicated that these treatments induced qualitatively similar responses. • Similarily, a comparison of responses of directly treated and systemically induced leaves indicated extensive overlap in the sets of induced genes. FTC‐R was found to contain the insect‐derived elicitor volicitin. • The simulated herbivory treatments resulted in the induction of genes involved in poplar defense and secondary metabolism. We also identified wound‐responsive genes with roles in primary metabolism, including a putative invertase, lipase, and acyl‐activating enzyme; some of these genes may have roles in defense signaling. In addition, we found three unknown genes containing a ZIM motif which may represent novel transcription factors.