Effects of poplar phenolics on the fitness and behaviour of Chaitophorus aphids

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dc.contributor.authorWong, Alpha Reghan
dc.contributor.supervisorPerlman, Steven John
dc.contributor.supervisorConstabel, Carsten Peter
dc.date.accessioned2013-08-29T22:33:58Z
dc.date.copyright2013en_US
dc.date.issued2013-08-29
dc.degree.departmentDepartment of Biology
dc.degree.levelMaster of Science M.Sc.en_US
dc.description.abstractAs sessile organisms, plants are unable to escape from attack by herbivorous insects. To cope with this pressure, plants have evolved several defense strategies, including the production of secondary metabolites, specialized chemicals with ecological functions. Most studies have focused on the role of secondary metabolites in plant defense against chewing insects. Little is known about what compounds are present in phloem sap and how they affect phloem feeding insects. Therefore, I investigated the effects of phenolic compounds on phloem feeders, using Chaitophorus aphids in bioassays with wildtype and transgenic poplar overexpressing the transcription factor MYB 134, which results in elevated levels of tannins and reduced levels of phenolic glycosides. Aphids produced significantly more offspring on MYB 134 plants but showed a significant preference for lower tannin leaf tissue. Analysis of poplar phloem exudates and aphid extracts provides direct evidence that the phenolic glycosides salicin, salicortin and tremulacin are present in poplar phloem and are ingested by aphids. These results are discussed in relation to what is driving the differences in aphid fecundity and choice between plant types.en_US
dc.description.proquestcode0309en_US
dc.description.proquestcode0307en_US
dc.description.proquestcode0329en_US
dc.description.proquestemailalphareghanwong@gmail.comen_US
dc.description.scholarlevelGraduateen_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1828/4867
dc.languageEnglisheng
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.rights.tempAvailable to the World Wide Weben_US
dc.subjectChaitophorusen_US
dc.subjectPopulusen_US
dc.subjecttanninen_US
dc.subjectphenolic glycosideen_US
dc.subjectplant defenseen_US
dc.subjectherbivoryen_US
dc.titleEffects of poplar phenolics on the fitness and behaviour of Chaitophorus aphidsen_US
dc.typeThesisen_US

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