Poplar communication with the environment

萜烯（≡类异戊二烯）是植物释放的挥发性有机化合物（VOCs），但其生态功能尚不完全清楚。杨树是强异戊二烯排放者。在之前的研究中，我们已经构建了非异戊二烯杨树，并开始了它们的表征。我们还构建了表达蒎烯合成酶的杨树。我们的目的是研究异戊二烯和单萜烯在草食和菌根相互作用中的作用。除了野生型杨树植物（异戊二烯和非单萜烯排放者），我们将利用转基因杨树系，要么是非异戊二烯排放者，要么是非异戊二烯，但组成单萜烯排放者。VOC排放对草食动物和/或外生菌根真菌相互作用的影响将在实验室、温室和露天条件下进行研究。此外，还将研究草食动物的攻击如何影响外生菌根真菌或致病真菌的生存，反之亦然，以及EM如何改变植物排放的VOC混合物和叶食昆虫的生产性能。植物和外生菌根的反应将在分子水平上进行研究。这些研究结果将为研究杨树的互作和草食防御提供重要的知识。

Terpenes (≡isoprenoids) are volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by plants but their ecological functions are not fully understood. Poplars are strong isoprene emitters. In preceding studies we have constructed non-isoprene emitting poplars and started with their characterization. We have also constructed poplars expressing pinene synthase. We aim to study the role of isoprene and monoterpenes in herbivore and mycorrhizal interactions. In addition to wild type poplar plants (isoprene and non-monoterpene emitters) we will make use of transgenic poplar lines, that are either non-isoprene emitters or non-isoprene, but constitutive monoterpene emitters. The influence of the VOC emission on the interaction with herbivores and/or ectomycorrhizal fungi will be studied under laboratory, green house and open air conditions. Furthermore, it will be investigated how attack by herbivores affects the survival of ectomycorrhizal fungi or pathogenic fungi and vice versa, and how EM changes the VOC blend emitted by the plants and the performance of leaf feeding insects. Responses of the plant and the ectomycorrhiza will be studied on a molecular level. The results of these studies will provide important knowledge about poplar interaction and defense from herbivory.