Journal Articles

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://mro.massey.ac.nz/handle/10179/7915

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Author: search.filters.author.Holopainen JKSubject: search.filters.subject.plant secondary metabolites

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    Herbivory and Attenuated UV Radiation Affect Volatile Emissions of the Invasive Weed Calluna vulgaris
    (MDPI (Basel, Switzerland), 13/07/2020) Effah E; Barrett DP; Peterson PG; Wargent JJ; Potter MA; Holopainen JK; Clavijo McCormick A
    Calluna vulgaris (heather) is an aggressive invasive weed on the Central Plateau, North Is., New Zealand (NZ), where it encounters different environmental factors compared to its native range in Europe, such as high ultraviolet radiation (UV) and a lack of specialist herbivores. The specialist herbivore Lochmaea suturalis (heather beetle) was introduced from the United Kingdom (UK) in 1996 as a biocontrol agent to manage this invasive weed. Like other plant invaders, a novel environment may be challenging for heather as it adjusts to its new conditions. This process of "adjustment" involves morphological and physiological changes often linked to phenotypic plasticity. The biochemical responses of exotic plants to environmental variables in their invaded range is poorly understood. The production and release of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) is essential to plant communication and highly susceptible to environmental change. This study therefore aimed to explore the VOC emissions of heather in response to different levels of UV exposure, and to feeding damage by L. suturalis. Using tunnel houses clad with UV-selective filters, we measured VOCs produced by heather under NZ ambient, 20% attenuated, and 95% attenuated solar UV treatments. We also compared VOC emissions in the field at adjacent sites where L. suturalis was present or absent. Volatiles produced by the same target heather plants were measured at four different times in the spring and summer of 2018-2019, reflecting variations in beetle's abundance, feeding stage and plant phenology. Heather plants under 95% attenuated UV produced significantly higher amounts of (E)-β-farnesene, decanal, benzaldehyde, and benzeneacetaldehyde compared to 25% attenuated and ambient UV radiation. We also found significant differences in volatiles produced by heather plants in beetle-present versus beetle-absent sites on most sampling occasions. We also recorded a lower number of generalist herbivores on heather at sites where L. suturalis was present. Interactions between invasive plants, a novel environment, and the native communities they invade, are discussed.
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    Natural Variation in Volatile Emissions of the Invasive Weed Calluna vulgaris in New Zealand
    (MDPI (Basel, Switzerland), 21/02/2020) Effah E; Barrett DP; Peterson PG; Godfrey AJR; Potter MA; Holopainen JK; Clavijo McCormick A
    Invasive plants pose a threat to natural ecosystems, changing the community composition and ecological dynamics. One aspect that has received little attention is the production and emission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) by invasive plants. Investigating VOCs is important because they are involved in vital ecological interactions such as pollination, herbivory and plant competition. Heather, Calluna vulgaris, is a major invasive weed in New Zealand, especially on the Central Plateau, where it has spread rapidly since its introduction in 1912, outcompeting native species. However, the chemical behaviour of heather in its invaded ranges is poorly understood. We aimed to explore the natural variation in volatile emissions of heather and the biotic and abiotic factors influencing them on the Central Plateau of New Zealand. To this end, foliar volatiles produced by heather at four different sites were collected and analysed using gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. Soil properties, herbivory and other environmental data were also collected at each site to investigate their effects on VOC emissions using generalised linear models (GLMs). Our results reveal significant differences in VOC emissions between sites and suggest that soil nutrients are the main factor accounting for these differences. Herbivory and temperature had only a minor effect, while soil water content had no impact. Further studies are needed to investigate how these variations in the invasive plant's foliar volatiles influence native species.