Do plants have internet? Interplant communication via common mycorrhizal networks. Jennifer Slater

Transcription

1 Do plants have internet? Interplant communication via common mycorrhizal networks Jennifer Slater Supervisors: David Johnson (UoA) Lucy Gilbert (JHI) Alison Karley (JHI)

2 Rationale Food Security 9-21% of crop yield is lost due to pests globally Pesticides in the UK Environmental problems Legislation Sustainable methods Alternative: using Plant Defence Mechanisms

3 System Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

4 System: Arbuscular Mycorrhiza Fungi

5 System: Bean (Vicia faba)

6 System: Pea Aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum

7 System: Parasitoid Wasp Aphidius ervi

8 Indirect Induced Plant Defences + Biocontrol Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) - Induce Benefit

9 Defence Signal Transfer Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) Common Mycorrhizal Network (CMN)

10 Defence Signal Transfer

11 Question and Hypotheses Can plant-plant signalling occur between different species of related plants that share the same insect pest? Same Species More Pronounced Insect Responses Different Species Less Pronounced Insect Responses

12 Experimental Design Connected Change in VOCs Receiver Donor Non-Receiver Unconnected No Change in VOCs a. a. a. a. b. c. b. c. b. c. b. c. Same Cultivar Bean (Sutton Dwarf) (cultivar) Different Cultivar Bean (Aquadulce) (species) Vetch (genus) Pea (family) More Related Less Related

13 Olfactometer: Insect Choice Tests Donor Receiver Non-Receiver Donor Receiver Non-Receiver

14 % Aphids Attracted Results: Aphid Visitations Error Bars signify Range Predictions: Prefer Non-Receiver VOCs Donor Receiver Non-Receiver

15 % Aphids Attracted Results: Aphid Visitations Error Bars signify Range 30 Results: No Preference Donor Receiver Non-Receiver

16 % Wasps Attracted Results: Wasp Visitations Error Bars signify Range Predictions: Prefer Donor and Receiver VOCs Donor Receiver Non-Receiver

17 % Wasps Attracted Results: Wasp Visitations Error Bars signify Range Results: No Preference Donor Receiver Non-Receiver WHY ARE THEY NOT RESPONDING AS PREDICTED?

18 % Attracted to Pea Results: No Maternal Effects Average is 50: Cultured on Bean Cultured on Pea % Attracted to Bean

19 % Attracted to Pea Results: No Maternal Effects Average is 50: Cultured on Bean Cultured on Pea % Attracted to Bean

20 Root Length % Colonisation by AMF Results: AMF Colonisation Error Bars signify Range Donor Sutton Dwarf Bean Aquadulce Bean Vetch Pea Root Architecture or Species Preference?

21 Connection Established? Connected Unconnected

22 Relative Aphid Attractiveness Results: Aphid & AMF Linked? Prefers Receiver Prefers Non-Receiver Root Length % Colonisation by AMF Indicates no preference

23 Relative Aphid Attractiveness Results: Aphid & AMF Linked? Plants with over 40% AMF Colonisation: Still no strong pattern Prefers Receiver Indicates no preference Prefers Non-Receiver Root Length % Colonisation by AMF

24 Relative Wasp Attractiveness Results: Wasp & AMF Linked? Prefers Receiver Indicates no 4 preference Prefers Non-Receiver Root Length % Colonisation by AMF

25 Relative Wasp Attractiveness Results: Wasp & AMF Linked? Plants with over 40% AMF Colonisation: Potential Pattern Prefers Receiver Indicates no preference Prefers Non-Receiver Root Length % Colonisation by AMF

26 Mechanism: Plant VOCs? Methyl Salicylate Cis-Jasmone α-pinene b-myrcene 4-Carene cis-β-ocimene Limonene Eucalyptol cis-3-hexen-ol-acetate trans-β-ocimene Benzaldehyde Linalool Naphthalene Methyl Salicylate Cinnamaldehyde β-caryophyllene α-caryophyllene Indole cis-jasmone

27 Plant VOCs Similar Sutton Dwarf Bean Aquadulce Bean Vetch Pea

28 % Wasps Attracted % Aphids Attracted Mechanism: Plant VOCs? Sutton Dwarf Bean Aquadulce Bean Donor Receiver Non-Receiver Vetch Pea 5 0 Donor Receiver Non-Receiver

29 VOCs Associated with AMF Not sure if VOCs due to Infected with AMF Infected with Aphids Combination of AMF and Aphids α-pinene b-myrcene 4-Carene cis-β-ocimene Limonene Eucalyptol cis-3-hexen-ol-acetate trans-β-ocimene Benzaldehyde Linalool Naphthalene Methyl Salicylate Cinnamaldehyde β-caryophyllene α-caryophyllene Indole cis-jasmone RED = VOCs associated with AMF infected Plants

30 Conclusions Can plant-plant signalling occur between different species of related plants that share the same insect pest? 3. No patterns or maternal effects 4. Potential response 2. Similar profiles but AMF or aphids? No evidence of plant relatedness impacting on mechanism 1. Colonised but connection established?

31 Future Work Donor Donor Receiver Receiver Non Receiver Twist Non Receiver Timings? Plants that DON T share same insect pest

32 Why is this Important? Implications for Farm Management Reduced Pesticides Enhancing Biodiversity Intercropping Field Margins Monoculture Ecosystem Services Pollination and Biocontrol Landscape Management Intercrop

33 Acknowledgements Ali Karley s Lab Group Alison Bennett s Lab Group Sandra Caul Peter Orrell Antonino Malacrino Tom Shepherd