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PLANTS INTERACTING WITH OTHER ORGANISMS

Wound-Induced Terpene Synthase Gene Expression in Sitka Spruce That Exhibit Resistance or Susceptibility to Attack by the White Pine Weevil^1,[W]

Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada V5A 1S6 (A.B.-M., M.T., A.L.P.); Michael Smith Laboratories and Departments of Botany and Forest Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6T 1Z4 (K.-A.G., D.M.M., J.B.); Canadian Forest Service, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada V8Z 1M5 (R.A.); and British Columbia Ministry of Forests Research Branch, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada V8W 9C2 (J.K.)

We analyzed the expression pattern of various terpene synthase (TPS) genes in response to a wounding injury applied to the apical leader of Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis Bong. Carr.) genotypes known to be resistant (R) or susceptible (S) to white pine weevil (Pissodes strobi Peck.) attack. The purpose was to test if differences in constitutive or wound-induced TPS expression can be associated with established weevil resistance. All wounding treatments were conducted on 9-year-old R and S trees growing under natural field conditions within the range of variation for weevil R and S genotypes. Representative cDNAs of the monoterpene synthase (mono-TPS), sesquiterpene synthase (sesqui-TPS), and diterpene synthase (di-TPS) classes were isolated from Sitka spruce to assess TPS transcript levels. Based on amino acid sequence similarity, the cDNAs resemble Norway spruce (Picea abies) (–)-linalool synthase (mono-TPS; PsTPS-Linl) and levopimaradiene/abietadiene synthase (di-TPS; PsTPS-LASl), and grand fir (Abies grandis) -selinene synthase (sesqui-TPS; PsTPS-Sell). One other mono-TPS was functionally identified as (–)-limonene synthase (PsTPS-Lim). No significant difference in constitutive expression levels for these TPSs was detected between R and S trees. However, over a postwounding period of 16 d, only R trees exhibited significant transcript accumulation for the mono- and sesqui-TPS tested. Both R and S trees exhibited a significant accumulation of PsTPS-LASl transcripts. An assessment of traumatic resin duct formation in wounded leaders showed that both R and S trees responded by forming traumatic resin ducts; however, the magnitude of this response was significantly greater in R trees. Collectively, our data imply that the induced resinosis response is an important aspect of defense in weevil R Sitka spruce trees growing under natural conditions.

² These authors contributed equally to the paper.

³ Present address: Department of Science, Mathematics and Technology, SUNY Empire State College, Old Westbury, NY 11568.

The author responsible for distribution of materials integral to the findings presented in this article in accordance with the policy described in the Instructions for Authors (www.plantphysiol.org) is: Aine L. Plant (aine_plant{at}sfu.ca).

^[W] The online version of this article contains Web-only data.

Article, publication date, and citation information can be found at www.plantphysiol.org/cgi/doi/10.1104/pp.105.071803.

^* Corresponding author; e-mail aine_plant{at}sfu.ca; fax 604–291–3496.

Received September 22, 2005; returned for revision December 6, 2005; accepted December 21, 2005.

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