The Induction of the Jasmonic Acid (JA) Plant Defense Pathway Affecting the Host-Plant Selection of Myzus persicae

Authors

  • Chimira Nicole Andres McMaster University
  • Rama Al-Atout
  • Ross Edwards
  • Julia Pantaleo
  • Michael Chong

Keywords:

Arabidopsis thaliana, Myzus persicae, green peach aphid, host preference, metapopulation dynamics, herbivory, mechanical wounding, defense pathways

Abstract

Host selection in aphids such as Myzus persicae is an intriguing research pathway which investigates aphid population interactions within ecological systems. Induced plant resistance activates an effective signalling pathway, the jasmonic acid pathway, and in turn affects the performance of aphids.  In this study, we look to study the short-term host selection and preference of M. persicae between wounded and healthy wild-type Arabidopsis plants. We conducted a microcosm experiment wherein aphid movement between neighbouring plants was observed over a 12 day period. Each microcosm contained one of four possible combinations of damaged and undamaged host plants, and three M. persicae. Host-plant preference was measured using the percentage of M. persicae that moved to or from damaged plants and analyzed using pairwise t-tests between treatments. M. persicae showed a preference for undamaged hosts over damaged hosts.

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Published

2017-08-04