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17-Hydroxygeranyllinalool glycosides are major resistance traits of Nicotiana obtusifolia against attack from tobacco

Amir Reza Jassbi1, Simin Zamanizadehnajari, Ian T Baldwin

  • 1Department of Molecular Ecology, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Hans-Knöll-Strasse 8, D-07745 Jena, Germany.

Phytochemistry
|May 11, 2010
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Diterpene glycosides (HGL-DTGs) are key plant defenses against tobacco hornworm larvae in the Great Basin Desert. Higher HGL-DTG levels in Nicotiana obtusifolia explain its reduced herbivory compared to Nicotiana attenuata.

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Area of Science:

  • Plant biochemistry and chemical ecology
  • Insect-plant interactions
  • Desert plant defenses

Background:

  • Nicotiana obtusifolia and Nicotiana attenuata co-occur in the Great Basin Desert.
  • N. obtusifolia experiences less tobacco hornworm herbivory than N. attenuata, despite lower nicotine and trypsin protease inhibitor levels.
  • 17-hydroxygeranyllinalool diterpene glycosides (HGL-DTGs) are known defenses in N. attenuata.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of HGL-DTGs in the differential defense of N. obtusifolia and N. attenuata against tobacco hornworm larvae.
  • To characterize the major HGL-DTGs in N. obtusifolia leaves.
  • To evaluate the defensive efficacy of HGL-DTGs using gene silencing.

Main Methods:

  • Purification and characterization of three major HGL-DTGs from N. obtusifolia leaves.
  • Identification of additional HGL-DTGs and quercetin glycosides using LC-MS.
  • Virus-induced gene silencing to reduce HGL-DTG levels in both Nicotiana species.
  • Larval mass gain assays on control and silenced plants.

Main Results:

  • Total HGL-DTG levels were 5-fold higher in N. obtusifolia than in N. attenuata.
  • Three major HGL-DTGs were characterized: 3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->4)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-17-hydroxygeranyllinalool-17-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->4)-beta-D-glucopyranoside, nicotinoside III, and its malonic acid conjugates.
  • Mono- and diacetyl-nicotinoside III and quercetin glycosides were also identified.
  • Larvae fed on HGL-DTG-reduced plants gained up to twice as much mass compared to larvae on control plants.

Conclusions:

  • HGL-DTGs are the primary direct defense compounds in both N. attenuata and N. obtusifolia.
  • The higher concentration of HGL-DTGs in N. obtusifolia contributes to its lower susceptibility to tobacco hornworm herbivory.