COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH: Herbivory-Boosted Photosynthesis: Elicitors from Tupiocoris notatus Saliva Induce Changes in Plant Metabolism

与传统观点相反，并不是所有的昆虫食草动物都会对它们的植物寄主产生负面的适合性后果，也不是所有诱导的植物反应都会对攻击昆虫产生负面影响。该项目假设植物的潜在识别和信号机制受到植物和昆虫之间的共同进化军备竞赛的影响，因此特定诱导的植物反应可能对双方都有利/不利；做出反应的植物和操纵植物的食草动物。以往的研究表明，在不降低光合作用和生长的情况下，存在可能特异性地影响初级和次生代谢的补偿调节机制，以增强植物的防御能力。本项目将阐明野生烟草在受到烟粉虱侵袭时植物初级和次生代谢的诱导变化的作用，评估植物和昆虫的适合性后果，并揭示这些反应的潜在生理机制。植物对食草性反应的综合功能分析被用来理解驱动植物-昆虫共同进化的生态机制。在农作物和园艺植物中操纵这种植物防御机制将允许开发出更可持续、但成本效益高的虫害控制方法。此外，确定提高光合作用活性的机制是提高农业生产率的一个重大机会。更广泛的影响该项目的更广泛的影响涉及两名年轻科学家的专业发展，并结合了两个实验室的研究重点，其中一个侧重于植物光合作用过程的分析，另一个侧重于草食动物诱导的植物防御。本科生将参与该项目的所有阶段，并将能够获得学分，因为他们参与了这两所学术机构的实践研究课程。康奈尔大学和伊萨卡学院地理位置接近，学生可以利用这两所大学的研究环境。在康奈尔大学新的分子和化学生态学倡议的框架和指导下，该项目的各个方面将用于制定本科生和研究生教育课程。除了本科教育外，该项目还将包括一名博士后助理和一名研究生的培训。

Contrary to conventional wisdom, not all insect herbivores impose negative fitness consequences on their plant hosts and not all induced plant responses affect the attacking insects negatively. This project hypothesizes that the underlying recognition and signaling mechanisms of the plant are subject to a co-evolutionary arms race between plants and insects, so that specifically induced plant responses could be to the benefit/disadvantage of both sides; the responding plant and the herbivore manipulating the plant. Previous studies suggest the existence of compensatory regulation mechanisms that may specifically influence both primary and secondary metabolism to increase plant defense without decreasing photosynthesis and growth. This project will elucidate the function of induced changes in plant primary and secondary metabolism of the wild tobacco Nicotiana attenuata when attacked by the mirid bug Tupiocoris notatus, evaluating fitness consequences for the plant and the insect and uncovering the underlying physiological mechanisms of those responses. Integrative functional analysis of plant responses to herbivory are used to understand the ecological mechanisms that drive plant-insect co-evolution. The manipulation of such a plant defense mechanism in crop and horticultural plants would allow the development of more sustainable, yet cost efficient methods of pest control. Moreover, identifying mechanisms that increase photosynthetic activity is a major opportunity to increase agricultural productivity. Broader ImpactsThe project's broader impacts involve the professional development of two young scientists and combine research foci of both laboratories, one of which focuses on the analysis of plant photosynthesis processes and the other on herbivore-induced plant defenses. Undergraduate students will be involved in all stages of the project and will be able to gain academic credit for their involvement in practical research courses in both academic institutions. The geographic proximity of Cornell and Ithaca College allows the students to take advantage of the research environments of both institutions. Under the framework and guidance of the new Molecular and Chemical Ecology Initiative of Cornell aspects of this project will be used to develop undergraduate and graduate educational curriculum. In addition to undergraduate education this project will include the training of a postdoctoral associate and a graduate student.