Abstract Detail

Stress Tolerance

Dobson, Mary C. [1], Martin, Noland H. [2].

Genetic patterns of tolerance to herbivory in a hybrid swarm of Louisiana Iris.

Plants have evolved a diverse array of defense mechanisms to reduce the chance and effects of herbivore attack. These mechanisms are traditionally classified into two broad categories: resistance and tolerance mechanisms. Tolerance, the degree to which fitness is impacted due to herbivore damage relative to the fitness of undamaged plants, was evaluated in this study. In the spring of 2010, a manipulative experiment was performed to assess the differential tolerance to herbivory in a population comprised of two pure species of Louisiana Iris (Iris brevicaulis and I. fulva) as well as the F1 progeny, and a mapping population of back crosses to each of the pure species (BCIB and BCIF). Plants were paired according to genotype, then, one individual of each clone triplet was clipped of 0%, 50%, or 100% of above ground biomass and allowed to grow naturally for the duration of the flowering season. Differential tolerance will be assessed based on relative growth rate (relative to the growth rate of different treatments of the clone pairing) and relative above as well as below ground biomass. A MANOVA will then be used to determine differential tolerance among cross types. A quantitative trait locus analysis will also be performed to identify regions of the genome responsible for differential tolerance in this system.

Broader Impacts:
Understanding ecological and genetic mechanisms of speciation.

1 - Texas State University-San Marcos, Biology, 401 N. Fredericksburg #501, San Marcos, TX, 78666, USA
2 - Texas State University-San Marcos, Department of Biology, 601 University Dr., San Marcos, TX, 78666, USA

Keywords:
Tolerance
herbivory
ecology
genetics
QTL mapping
hybrids.

Presentation Type: Oral Paper:Papers for Topics
Session: 57
Location: 555A/Convention Center
Date: Wednesday, August 4th, 2010
Time: 2:00 PM
Number: 57003
Abstract ID:733