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Genetic Variation of Lodgepole Pine, Pinus contorta var. latifolia, Chemical and Physical Defenses that Affect Mountain Pine Beetle, Dendroctonus ponderosae, Attack and Tree Mortality

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Abstract

Plant secondary chemistry is determined by both genetic and environmental factors, and while large intraspecific variation in secondary chemistry has been reported frequently, the levels of genetic variation of many secondary metabolites in forest trees in the context of potential resistance against pests have been rarely investigated. We examined the effect of tree genotype and environment/site on the variation in defensive secondary chemistry of lodgepole pine, Pinus contorta var. latifolia, against the fungus, Grosmannia clavigera (formerly known as Ophiostoma clavigerum), associated with the mountain pine beetle, Dendroctonus ponderosae. Terpenoids were analyzed in phloem samples from 887, 20-yr-old trees originating from 45 half-sibling families planted at two sites. Samples were collected both pre- and post-inoculation with G. clavigera. Significant variation in constitutive and induced terpenoid compounds was attributed to differences among families. The response to the challenge inoculation with G. clavigera was strong for some individual compounds, but primarily for monoterpenoids. Environment (site) also had a significant effect on the accumulation of some compounds, whereas for others, no significant environmental effect occurred. However, for a few compounds significant family x environment interactions were found. These results suggest that P. c. latifolia secondary chemistry is under strong genetic control, but the effects depend on the individual compounds and whether or not they are expressed constitutively or following induction.

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Acknowledgments

This work was funded by British Columbia Forest Service grant to K.F.W. and A.D.Y.; support from Oregon State University and University of Vermont and USDA Forest Service to K.F.W. The authors thank Andrea Scott, Marco Hernandez, Matthew Klingenberg, Jeff Selesnic, Erin Clark, Dr. Staffan Lindgren, Dr. Ian Hartley (University of Northern British Columbia) and Bonnie Hooge, Dr. Michael Carlson, Bonnie E. Lee, Nicholas Ukrainetz, John Murphy (B.C. Forest Service) Carolyn Goodwin Kueffner, Marcia Caldwell, Dr. Alan Howard, Drew Cameron, Sarah Pears and Dan Comerford (University of Vermont, Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources) and Dr. Paul Schaberg (USDA Forest Service) for assistance in the field and laboratory. The authors thank Clive Dawson and David Dunn (British Columbia Forest Service Analytical Chemistry lab) for assistance in processing all analytical chemistry samples.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, 05405, USA

    Daniel S. Ott & Kimberly F. Wallin

  2. University of Northern British Columbia, Prince George, BC, Canada

    Daniel S. Ott, Dezene P. W. Huber & Kimberly F. Wallin

  3. British Columbia Forest Service, Victoria, BC, Canada

    Alvin D. Yanchuk

  4. USDA Forest Service, 705 Spear Street, South Burlington, VT, 05404, USA

    Kimberly F. Wallin

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  1. Daniel S. Ott
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  4. Kimberly F. Wallin
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Correspondence to Kimberly F. Wallin.

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Ott, D.S., Yanchuk, A.D., Huber, D.P.W. et al. Genetic Variation of Lodgepole Pine, Pinus contorta var. latifolia, Chemical and Physical Defenses that Affect Mountain Pine Beetle, Dendroctonus ponderosae, Attack and Tree Mortality. J Chem Ecol 37, 1002–1012 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10886-011-0003-8

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