Jack Pine Signalling and Responses to Herbivory

• Author / Creator

  Lazebnik, Jenny

• Intra and inter-plant signalling was investigated in jack pine (Pinus banksiana) seedlings in response to jack pine budworm (Choristoneura pinus, Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) feeding. Defoliation was followed by a fungal inoculation by blue stain fungus (Grosmannia clavigera) to assess resistance. Results from greenhouse experiments showed that: 1) intra-plant signalling was mediated by intensity of larval defoliation, 2) intra-plant signalling was not observed with mechanical wounding 3) seedling resistance to a fungal pathogen depended on type of defoliation before inoculation, and 4) volatile-exposure from defoliated seedlings could mediate resistance to subsequent fungal infection. In mature jack pine stands in Ontario, needle monoterpene concentrations decreased on budworm defoliated and nearby branches. Monoterpene concentration in the phloem of mature trees was higher in trees with high budworm infestation. This research contributed to the understanding of inducible responses and volatile signalling in conifer systems. Effects of herbivory on jack pine were investigated though analysis of volatile and tissue monoterpenes, known to mediate multi-organismal ecological interactions.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Volatile organic chemicals
  • Jack pine budworm
  • Inter-plant communication
  • Conifer defence
  • Jack pine
  • Insect-plant interactions

• Graduation date

  Fall 2012

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Master of Science

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/R3441V

• 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.