Induced monoterpene responses in jack pine: defence against jack pine budworm and a fungal associate of the mountain pine beetle

• Author / Creator

  Colgan, Lindsay Jessica

• My thesis research investigated monoterpene responses in jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.) to different agents to better understand how these responses may influence the spread of the mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins; MPB) in the boreal forest. The results support that monoterpenes are inducible responses in jack pine. In the first study, methyl jasmonate application elicited the greatest response in juvenile and mature trees suggesting that jasmonic acid plays a role in jack pine defence responses. In the cross-induction study, I found evidence of an increase in resistance to Grosmannia clavigera with prior jack pine budworm defoliation (Choristoneura pinus pinus Freeman; JPBW). In contrast, needle monoterpenes greatly increased after G. clavigera inoculation and continued to increase during JPBW defoliation; however, JPBW increased its feeding rate to compensate for a change in host quality. Overall, monoterpene induction in jack pine depended on the agent(s) involved and their order. The systemic responses that were observed may have implications for MPB spread in the boreal forest.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Mountain pine beetle
  • Jack pine budworm
  • Monoterpenes
  • Grosmanniaclavigera
  • Jack pine
  • Tree-mediated interactions
  • Induced responses

• Graduation date

  Fall 2010

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Master of Science

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/R36M2P

• License

  This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.