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Down-regulation of gibberellic acid in poplar has negligible effects on host-plant suitability and insect pest response

ScholarsArchive at Oregon State University

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Title Down-regulation of gibberellic acid in poplar has negligible effects on host-plant suitability and insect pest response
Names Buhl, Christine (creator)
Strauss, Steven H. (creator)
Lindroth, Richard L. (creator)
Date Issued 2015-02 (iso8601)
Note This is an author's peer-reviewed final manuscript, as accepted by the publisher. The published article is copyrighted by Springer and can be found at: http://link.springer.com/journal/11829
Abstract Abstract Endogenous levels and signaling of gibberellin plant hormones such as
gibberellic acid (GA) have been genetically down-regulated to create semi-dwarf
varieties of poplar. The potential benefits of semi-dwarf stature include reduced risk of
wind damage, improved stress tolerance, and improved wood quality. Despite these
benefits, modification of growth traits may have consequences for non-target traits that
confer defense against insect herbivores. According to the growth-differentiation
balance hypothesis, reductions in growth may shift allocation of carbon from growth to
chemical resistance traits, thereby altering plant defense. To date, host-plant suitability
and pest response have not been comprehensively evaluated in GA down-regulated
plants. We quantified chemical resistance and nitrogen (an index of protein) in GA
down-regulated and wild-type poplar (Populus alba × P. tremula) genotypes. We also
evaluated performance of both generalist (Lymantria dispar) and specialist
(Chrysomela scripta) insect pests reared on these genotypes. Our evaluation of
resistance traits in four GA down-regulated genotypes revealed increased phenolic
glycosides in one modified genotype and reduced lignin in two modified genotypes
relative to the non-transgenic wild type. Nitrogen levels did not vary significantly among
the experimental genotypes. Generalists reared on the four GA down-regulated
genotypes exhibited reduced performance on only one modified genotype relative to
the wild type. Specialists, however, performed similarly across all genotypes. Results
from this study indicate that although some non-target traits varied among GA down-regulated
genotypes, the differences in poplar pest susceptibility were modest and
highly genotype-specific.
Genre Article
Topic Genetically modified plants
Identifier Buhl, C., Strauss, S. H., & Lindroth, R. L. Down-regulation of gibberellic acid in poplar has negligible effects on host-plant suitability and insect pest response. Arthropod-Plant Interactions, 9(1), 85-95. doi:10.1007/s11829-014-9351-y

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