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Putting insects off the scent: modifying plant semiochemistry to disrupt plant-insect interactions

Reference0014906
Principal Investigator / Supervisor Professor Peter Shewry
Co-Investigators /
Co-Supervisors
Institution Rothamsted Research
DepartmentPlant Biology & Crop Science
Funding typeResearch
Value (£) 100,528
StatusCompleted
TypeResearch Grant
Start date 08/05/2001
End date 07/01/2004
Duration32 months

Abstract

We are seeking to enhance the natural defence systems of crops as an effective, sustainable method of pest control. Amongst the many strategies employed by plants is the production of volatile compounds (semiochemicals) that modify insect behaviour. In this proposal we aim to modify insect pest behaviour through production of the volatile sesquiterpene hydrocarbons germacrene-A, germacrene-D and E-beta- farnesene in the model species Arabidopsis. This will be achieved by expressing cDNAs encoding their respective terpene cyclases, which we have recently isolated, under the control of constitutive and inducible promoters. The plants will be tested for accumulation of the sesquiterpenes and for effects on the behavioural ecology of their insect pests.

Summary

unavailable
Committee Closed Committee - Plant & Microbial Sciences (PMS)
Research TopicsX – not assigned to a current Research Topic
Research PriorityX – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative ROPA 2000 (ROPA2000) [2000]
Funding SchemeX – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme
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