Effects of inbreeding on plant defenses, volatile production, plant-insect interactions, and the evolution of the breeding system in Solanum carolinense

许多植物物种自花授粉（一种严重的近亲繁殖形式），所有植物物种的叶子都被食草昆虫破坏。近亲繁殖和食草动物都降低了植物的生长和繁殖，但近亲繁殖对植物抗食草动物的影响在很大程度上尚未探索。拟议的研究将使用horsenettle植物来检查近交和远交植物在抗食草动物基因表达方面的差异（使用微阵列），关键植物防御化学物质的诱导（使用气相色谱法和质谱法）有助于保护植物免受食草动物的侵害，以及这些防御化学物质对食草动物及其天敌（捕食性昆虫）的摄食行为的影响。Horsenettle是番茄、土豆、茄子和辣椒等作物的近亲，它与这些作物有许多相同的食草昆虫。然而，Horsenettle是一种广泛的入侵杂草，在43个州都是一个问题。它是农田中的重要杂草，并且它含有减少这些作物物种产量的害虫和疾病。除了对近亲繁殖对植物抗性的影响进行全面研究外，拟议的研究还将提供关于这种重要杂草生命周期的定殖和建立阶段的关键信息;并阐明化学防御在可持续管理战略发展中的潜在作用，化学机制。

Many plant species self-pollinate (a severe form of inbreeding) and the leaves of all plant species are damaged by insect herbivores. Both inbreeding and herbivory reduce the growth and reproduction of plants but the effects of inbreeding on plant resistance to herbivores is largely unexplored. The proposed studies will use horsenettle plants to examine differences between inbred and outbred plants in the expression of anti-herbivore genes (using microarrays), the induction of key plant defensive chemicals (using gas chromatography and mass spectrometry) that help to protect the plants from herbivores, and the impact of these defensive chemicals on the feeding behavior of herbivores and their natural enemies (predatory insects). Horsenettle is a close relative of crop species such as tomatoes, potatoes, eggplant, and peppers and it shares many of the same insect herbivores as these crops. Horsenettle, however, is a widespread invasive weed that is a problem in 43 states. It is an important weed in agricultural fields and it harbors pests and diseases that reduce the yield of these crop species. In addition to producing a complete study of the effects of inbreeding on plant resistance, the proposed research will produce critical information on the colonization and establishment stages of the life cycle of this important weed; provide insight into potential biocontrol agents of horsenettle; and elucidate the potential roles of chemical defenses in the development of sustainable management strategies informed by a sophisticated understanding of underlying genetic and chemical mechanisms.