Collaborative Research: Chemical and Sensory Basis of Hostplant Specificity

小行星9423997 这项研究将提供植物-昆虫关系进化的基本信息，使用甘蓝蝴蝶和芸苔属植物的模型系统。 不同的敏感性的地理亚种的蝴蝶化学品在潜在的寄主植物将被检查，以解释植物的使用模式。 此外，将研究蝴蝶种群之间和种群内部的差异，以记录给定昆虫物种的遗传变异性。 将确定负责接受或拒绝特定植物的化学化合物。 对昆虫产卵、幼虫摄食和生长的影响的生物测定将用于分离活性化合物，并确定涉及味道或毒性的程度。 预计这些结果将提供一个综合图片的植物化学和昆虫反应之间的相互作用，在不同的昆虫和植物的生命阶段，并与不断变化的资源供应。 这项研究有望鉴定出保护植物免受昆虫侵害的天然化合物。 将获得昆虫最脆弱阶段的信息，以便准确了解植物逃离草食动物的情况。 由于该项目涉及本地和引入的昆虫和植物，因此可能会预测新的植物-昆虫协会的发展。 这项研究还可以确定一种本土昆虫适应一种积极传播的归化植物的不同化学物质的可能性。

9423997 Chew This research will provide basic information on the evolution of plant-insect relationships, using a model system of cabbage butterflies and Brassica plants. The different sensitivities of geographic subspecies of a butterfly to chemicals in potential hostplants will be examined to explain patterns of plant use. Also, differences between and within populations of butterflies will be studied to document the genetic variability in a given insect species. The chemical compounds responsible for acceptance or rejection of specific plants will be identified. Bioassays for effects on egg-laying, larval feeding and growth of the insects will be used to isolate the active compounds, and the extent to which taste or toxicity are involved will be determined. The results are expected to provide an integrated picture of the interactions between plant chemistry and insect responses at different insect and plant life stages and with changing resource availability. This research is expected to result in the identification of natural chemical compounds that defend plants against insects. Information on the most vulnerable stage of the insects will be obtained, so that an accurate picture of plant escape from herbivory may result. Since the project involves both native and introduced insects and plants, predictions about the development of new plant-insect associations my be possible. The research may also determine the likelihood that a native insect can adapt to the different chemistry of an aggressively spreading naturalized plant.