Project description:To investigate the impact of a plant´s response to abiotic stress on plant defense against subsequent biotic stress, we determined the transcriptional response of Arabidopsis thaliana to low temperature stress (4°C) and subsequent mechanical wounding or larval feeding damage by the herbivores Mamestra brassicae (generalist) and Pieris brassicae (specialist). In total, 21%, 4% and 14% of all genes responsive to M. brassicae, P. brassicae or mechanical wounding were differentially regulated in previously cold-treated compared to untreated plants.
Project description:Plants within the Brassicaceae family have a unique defence mechanism known as the “glucosinolate-myrosinase” system. Upon tissue disruption by insect herbivores, glucosinolates are hydrolysed by the enzyme myrosinase (EC 3.2.1.147) into a variety of degradation products, which can deter insect herbivory. This process has been termed as “The Mustard Oil Bomb”. Seeds of Brassica napus have been genetically modified to remove myrosinase containing myrosin cells. The modified plants have been named MINELESS due to a lack of toxic mines in seeds. This study aimed to get insights into defence responses of B. napus wild-type and MINELESS seedlings, after being challenged by larvae of the generalist herbivore Mamestra brassicae. The microarray analysis showed 494 and 159 genes to be differentially regulated after M. brassicae feeding on wild-type and MINELESS seedlings, respectively. Many of the observed transcriptional responses i B. napus and the MINELESS mutant are related to those found in Arabidopsis thaliana plants when they are exposed to insects.
Project description:Brassica nigra plants, a Brassicaceae close to Arabidopsis thaliana, was used for combined stresses experiments. In this study, we performed a whole-genome microarray analysis on five-week-old plants and compared untreated plants and plants treated different single or dual stresses: the larvae Pieris brassicae, egg extract of Pieris brassicae, the bacterial Xanthomonas campestris pv. raphani, the aphid Brevicoryne brassicae or by combined stresses eggs of P. brassicae / P. brassicae, X. campestris / P. brassicae, B. brassicae / P. brassicae.
