scholarly journals Identifying synergies and antagonisms between plant defense traits in Asclepias syriaca

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Collin B. Edwards ◽  
Stephen B. Ellner ◽  
Anurag Agrawal
Keyword(s):  
Natural Populations ◽  
General Rule ◽  
Exploratory Analysis ◽  
Multiple Traits ◽  
Asclepias Syriaca ◽  
Physical Barriers ◽  
Flexible Framework ◽  
Diverse Plant Species ◽  
Potential Interactions ◽  
Diverse Plant

As a general rule, plants defend against herbivores with multiple traits. The defense synergy hypothesis posits that some traits are more potent when co-expressed with others, compared to their independent potency. However, this hypothesis has rarely been tested outside of synergies within a class of particular phytochemicals, and seldom under field conditions. We tested for synergies between multiple defense traits of common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) by assaying the performance of two specialist herbivores on plants in natural populations. We employed both standard regression and exploratory analysis using a novel application of Random Forests that allowed us to detect synergies between defense traits. In hypothesis testing, we found the first empirical evidence for a previously hypothesized synergy between one pair of co-expressed defense traits (latex and cardenolides), but not another (latex and trichomes). When exploring all potential interactions between pairs of traits we found eight synergies and five antagonisms in predicting herbivore performance. Half of the identified synergies involved carbon, which is the basis of several defenses including chemical and physical barriers to feeding, and also essential nutrients. Our findings suggest that defense synergies could explain co-expression of latex and cardenolides in milkweeds. This synergy may be common among the diverse plant species that employ latex as a defense. Future studies should test carbon-based synergies, which our work suggests are prevalent, as well as the other synergies identified in our exploratory analysis. Our analytic approach provides a general, flexible framework for more broadly discovering and predicting the coexpression of traits through their synergistic function.

scholarly journals Phytophthora Diversity in Pennsylvania Nurseries and Greenhouses Inferred from Clinical Samples Collected over Four Decades

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (7) ◽  
pp. 1056
Author(s):  
Cody Molnar ◽  
Ekaterina Nikolaeva ◽  
Seonghwan Kim ◽  
Tracey Olson ◽  
Devin Bily ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Morphological Characteristics ◽  
Phytophthora Species ◽  
Clinical Samples ◽  
Department Of Agriculture ◽  
Distinct Subgroup ◽  
Exotic Pathogens ◽  
Diverse Plant Species ◽  
Insight Into ◽  
Diverse Plant

The increasing movement of exotic pathogens calls for systematic surveillance so that newly introduced pathogens can be recognized and dealt with early. A resource crucial for recognizing such pathogens is knowledge about the spatial and temporal diversity of endemic pathogens. Here, we report an effort to build this resource for Pennsylvania (PA) by characterizing the identity and distribution of Phytophthora species isolated from diverse plant species in PA nurseries and greenhouses. We identified 1137 Phytophthora isolates cultured from clinical samples of >150 plant species submitted to the PA Department of Agriculture for diagnosis from 1975 to 2019 using sequences of one or more loci and morphological characteristics. The three most commonly received plants were Abies, Rhododendron, and Pseudotsuga. Thirty-six Phytophthora species identified represent all clades, except 3 and 10, and included a distinct subgroup of a known species and a prospective new species. Prominent pathogenic species such as P. cactorum, P. cinnamomi, P. nicotianae, P. drechsleri, P. pini, P. plurivora, and P. sp. kelmania have been found consistently since 1975. One isolate cultured from Juniperus horizontalis roots did not correspond to any known species, and several other isolates also show considerable genetic variation from any authentic species or isolate. Some species were isolated from never-before-documented plants, suggesting that their host range is larger than previously thought. This survey only provides a coarse picture of historical patterns of Phytophthora encounters in PA nurseries and greenhouses because the isolation of Phytophthora was not designed for a systematic survey. However, its extensive temporal and plant coverage offers a unique insight into the association of Phytophthora with diverse plants in nurseries and greenhouses.

scholarly journals First Report of Tomato chlorotic spot virus in Hoya wayetii and Schlumbergera truncata

2015 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-30 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlye A. Baker ◽  
Scott Adkins
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Vegetable Crops ◽  
Spot Virus ◽  
First Report ◽  
Chlorotic Spot ◽  
Production Space ◽  
Related Plant ◽  
Diverse Plant Species ◽  
Diverse Plant

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of TCSV infection of H. wayetii and S. truncata from any location, although other tospoviruses are known to infect these and related plant species. The identification of these two diverse plant species as the first reported natural ornamental hosts of TCSV has implications for TCSV epidemiology and management in ornamental and vegetable crops, which frequently share production space. Accepted by publication 15 January 2015. Published 25 February 2015.

The influence of fire on Spartina pectinata wetland communities in a northeastern Kansas tallgrass prairie

1995 ◽  
Vol 73 (1) ◽  
pp. 84-90 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen R. Johnson ◽  
Alan K. Knapp
Keyword(s):  
Tallgrass Prairie ◽  
Light Availability ◽  
Fire Frequency ◽  
Plant Species Composition ◽  
Prairie Wetlands ◽  
Asclepias Syriaca ◽  
Spartina Pectinata ◽  
Galium Aparine ◽  
Reduced Light ◽  
Diverse Plant

Wetlands dominated by the C4 grass Spartina pectinata were investigated to quantify differences in plant species composition and diversity in response to fire frequency. The study site was a tallgrass prairie in northeastern Kansas that included Spartina wetlands subjected to spring fires at 1-, 2-, 4-, 10-, and 20-year intervals. Because C3 forbs in these wetlands responded strongly to different fire frequencies, the light environment and gas exchange responses of the ubiquitous forb Asclepias syriaca were also assessed. In general, species diversity was lower in annually burned wetlands because of lower forb diversity. Maximum H′ in annually burned sites was 1.64 versus 2.77 in 10- and 20-year burned sites. However, individual forb responses varied. Asclepias increased and Solidago canadensis and Galium aparine decreased in importance with increasing fire frequency. Canopy sunlight interception was greater in annually burned wetlands than in wetlands with lower burn frequencies. Despite reduced light availability, midseason photosynthetic rates of Asclepias were higher in annually burned sites. The results suggest that frequent fire in tallgrass prairie wetlands results in less diverse plant communities, similar to responses of upland prairie, and that the timing of fire, relative to life history and phenology of the subordinate species, strongly influences responses of individual forbs. Key words: wetlands, tallgrass prairie, Spartina pectinata communities, fire.

Ecology of the rare but irruptive Pilliga mouse, Pseudomys pilligaensis. III. Dietary ecology

2010 ◽  
Vol 58 (2) ◽  
pp. 85 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hideyuki Tokushima ◽  
Peter J. Jarman
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Rate ◽  
Wild Fire ◽  
Faecal Samples ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Different Seasons ◽  
Dietary Ecology ◽  
Protein Rich ◽  
Diverse Plant Species ◽  
Diverse Plant ◽  
Seeds And Fruits

The diet of the Pilliga mouse, Pseudomys pilligaensis, was analysed from 430 faecal samples collected from ~340 individuals across different seasons over a period of five years that included a wild fire and subsequent irruption and sharp decline of the population. The primary food items in all seasons were seeds and fruits from diverse plant species, but the mice also consumed a wide range of other foods, including leaves, invertebrates, fungi and mosses. Invertebrates, the second most abundant type of food item, were eaten in all seasons but, with fungi, increased in winter and spring when consumption of seeds and fruits declined. Mice consumed significantly more fungi and mosses before the wild fire than after it. Diets differed between sites rather little in the proportions of food categories, but greatly in the relative proportions of particular seed types in the seed+fruit category. The population irruption could have been triggered by a high reproductive rate that coincided with higher consumption by females of protein-rich foods such as invertebrates and fungi. Population density collapsed at sites as soil stores of utilisable seeds became depleted, mice surviving where their diet could remain diverse.

scholarly journals Phylogenetic analysis reveals conservation and diversification of micro RNA166 genes among diverse plant species

Genomics ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 103 (1) ◽  
pp. 114-121 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suvakanta Barik ◽  
Shabari SarkarDas ◽  
Archita Singh ◽  
Vibhav Gautam ◽  
Pramod Kumar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Phylogenetic Analysis ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Diverse Plant Species ◽  
Diverse Plant

scholarly journals Green Roof Plant Suitability Analysis for Northern Climates

2013 ◽  
Vol 23 (5) ◽  
pp. 563-574 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katherine L. Vinson ◽  
Youbin Zheng
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Green Roof ◽  
Green Roofs ◽  
Plant Production ◽  
Suitability Analysis ◽  
Production Growth ◽  
Diverse Plant Species ◽  
Extensive Green Roofs ◽  
Different Levels ◽  
Diverse Plant

To select plant species and species combinations for northern climates, mats with different plant species and species combinations were constructed on a green roof plant production farm and later transported and installed on an urban rooftop. There were three treatments: two different planting combinations, which together consisted of 10 diverse plant species [both stonecrop (Sedum) species and nonstonecrop species], and a control, which consisted of 26 stonecrop species used for standard mat production. Growth measurements and observations were made at both sites and special attention was paid to the performance of species during the harvest, transportation, and installation stages, as well as during recovery postinstallation. All species but false rock cress (Aubrieta cultorum) were found to be suitable for extensive green roof applications in northern climates, although there were variations of suitability among the species. Good, mediocre, and poor interactions formed between numerous species, displaying different levels of compatibility. Finally, all species were considered appropriate for a mat production system; species that failed to germinate, species planted postinstallation, the frequently displaced rolling hens and chicks (Jovibarba sobolifera), and false rock cress were exceptions. Overall, many species in this study displayed successful, well-rounded growth. Based on results, species and species combinations were recommended for extensive green roofs in northern climates.

scholarly journals Nanotechnology Approaches for Chloroplast Biotechnology Advancements

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregory M. Newkirk ◽  
Pedro de Allende ◽  
Robert E. Jinkerson ◽  
Juan Pablo Giraldo
Keyword(s):  
Synthetic Biology ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Targeted Delivery ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Ex Vivo ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Agricultural Field ◽  
Diverse Plant Species ◽  
Diverse Plant

Photosynthetic organisms are sources of sustainable foods, renewable biofuels, novel biopharmaceuticals, and next-generation biomaterials essential for modern society. Efforts to improve the yield, variety, and sustainability of products dependent on chloroplasts are limited by the need for biotechnological approaches for high-throughput chloroplast transformation, monitoring chloroplast function, and engineering photosynthesis across diverse plant species. The use of nanotechnology has emerged as a novel approach to overcome some of these limitations. Nanotechnology is enabling advances in the targeted delivery of chemicals and genetic elements to chloroplasts, nanosensors for chloroplast biomolecules, and nanotherapeutics for enhancing chloroplast performance. Nanotechnology-mediated delivery of DNA to the chloroplast has the potential to revolutionize chloroplast synthetic biology by allowing transgenes, or even synthesized DNA libraries, to be delivered to a variety of photosynthetic species. Crop yield improvements could be enabled by nanomaterials that enhance photosynthesis, increase tolerance to stresses, and act as nanosensors for biomolecules associated with chloroplast function. Engineering isolated chloroplasts through nanotechnology and synthetic biology approaches are leading to a new generation of plant-based biomaterials able to self-repair using abundant CO2 and water sources and are powered by renewable sunlight energy. Current knowledge gaps of nanotechnology-enabled approaches for chloroplast biotechnology include precise mechanisms for entry into plant cells and organelles, limited understanding about nanoparticle-based chloroplast transformations, and the translation of lab-based nanotechnology tools to the agricultural field with crop plants. Future research in chloroplast biotechnology mediated by the merging of synthetic biology and nanotechnology approaches can yield tools for precise control and monitoring of chloroplast function in vivo and ex vivo across diverse plant species, allowing increased plant productivity and turning plants into widely available sustainable technologies.

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