Laothawornkitkul, Jullada and Paul, Nigel D. and Vickers, Claudia E. and Possell, Malcolm and Taylor, Jane E. and Mullineaux, Philip M. and Hewitt, C. N. (2008) Isoprene emissions influence herbivore feeding decisions. Plant, Cell and Environment, 31 (10). pp. 1410-1415. ISSN 0140-7791
Full text not available from this repository.Abstract
Isoprene (C5H8, 2-methyl 1,3-butadiene) is synthesized and emitted by many, but not all, plants. Unlike other related volatile organic compounds (monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes), isoprene has not been shown to mediate plant-herbivore interactions. Here, for the first time, we show, in feeding choice tests using isoprene-emitting transgenic tobacco plants (Nicotiana tabacum cv. Samsun) and non-emitting azygous control plants, that isoprene deters Manduca sexta caterpillars from feeding. This avoidance behaviour was confirmed using an artificial (isoprene-emitting and non-emitting control) diet. Both in vivo and in vitro experiments showed that isoprene can activate feeding avoidance behaviour in this system with a dose-response effect on caterpillar behaviour and an isoprene emission threshold level of < 6 nmol m(-2) s(-1).