Susceptibility of Eucalyptus globulus to Mnesampela privata
defoliation in relation to a specific foliar wax compound |
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Authors: | Geoff R Allen Brad M Potts Luke P Rapley |
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Institution: | (1) School of Agricultural Science, University of Tasmania, Tasmania, Australia;(2) School of Plant Science, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia;(3) Cooperative Research Centre, Sustainable Production Forestry, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia |
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Abstract: | Summary. Increased abundance of several aliphatic benzyl
and phenylethyl alkanoates were previously associated with
reduced defoliation of
Eucalyptus globulus Labill. by the
autumn gum moth (Mnesampela privata Guenée) in two
clonally replicated F2 families. We examine the robustness
of this association by comparing the abundance of the
implicated foliar wax compounds with defoliation levels in
three plantation sites and a genetics trial in northern
Tasmania. At all locations, the aliphatic alkanoate, benzyl
n-tetracosanoate (C24), was found in significantly higher
abundance in the foliar wax of E. globulus trees that had displayed low M. privata damage (designated resistant) compared to trees that had displayed high damage (designated
susceptible). Further, when sites were combined, benzyl
n-tetracosanoate (C24) accounted for 16 % of variation in
field defoliation. Field defoliation was also positively correlated
to M. privata oviposition both in the field and on
foliage sprigs in a cage. In the cage bioassay, oviposition
accounted for 20 % of variation in field defoliation
making it a better predictor of tree defoliation in the field
than either field oviposition, which accounted for 9 % of
variation, or screening foliage for the abundance of benzyl
n-tetracosanoate (C24). Despite both benzyl n-tetracosanoate
(C24) and oviposition being related to field defoliation, there
was no statistically significant relationship between the
abundance of benzyl n-tetracosanoate (C24) and oviposition
in the field or cage bioassay. Further work is therefore
required to determine if increased levels of this compound in
the foliar wax operates as a direct deterrent to M. privataoviposition. |
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Keywords: | Lepidoptera Geometridae Mnesampela privata Myrtaceae Eucalyptus globulus plant-insect interactions foliar wax chemistry benzyl alkanoates defoliation oviposition |
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