Exam 2 Flashcards
What are some examples of important plant fixed physical defenses?
Lignin, Cuticle, Trichomes
How might trichomes provide defense?
Trap and impale an insect
What is a phytoanticipan?
– Plant secondary metabolites with anti-microbial or anti-herbivore properties
– Formed before pest/pathogen attack!
– 4 Main Classes:
Phenolic Compounds, Saponins, Alkaloids, Terpenoids
What is the functional role of nicotine for plants that produce it?
Blocks insect’s acetylcholine receptors (overstimulation, paralysis and death)
How do some insects/pathogens overcome or even exploit these fixed chemical defenses?
Some insects are immune to the toxins, so they consume them and then use them in their bodies to deter their own predators
What are some examples of induced structural defenses?
Cork layers, Callose Papillae, Abscission Layers
How is a phytoalexin different than a phytoanticipan?
Phytoalexins are Produced in response to non-specific pathogen/insect signals
or wounding
What is the hypersensitive response and what pathogens is it useful against?
Triggered by specific gene for gene interaction, Causes localized death of plant cell(s) and production of antimicrobial compounds. Useful against BIOTROPHIC pathogens. Retreats but destroys everything useful to (biotrophic) enemy
What are some potential triggers of systemic acquired resistance?
Being exposed to pathogens or artificial chemical stimuli
why isn’t systemic acquired resistance activated all the time?
It needs an initial infection
What is a biological control?
use of natural enemies to suppress pest populations
What are main types of natural enemies for insects, and what are the differences between them?
Pathogens: organisms that cause disease to another
Predators: animals that consume other living things
Parasitoids: an insect that spends its larval stage in or another organism (aka host)
What are the 4 kinds of applied biological control we discussed?
classical, augmentative, neo-classical, conservation
Classical bio control definition and pros and cons
Classical: Introduction of new natural enemies (establishing permanent pop.)
PRO: Can be very effective (long-term)
CON: Dealing with non-native species risks invasion
Augmentative bio control definition and pros and cons:
Augmentative: Periodic release of natural enemies (establishment is not the goal) - VERY successful is greenhouses, mixed results in the field
PRO: Dealing with natural enemies that are already present-reduced risk of non-target or subsequent invasions
CON: Fighting against the ecological pressures that are already in place to keep natural enemy populations low: difficult to know how many individuals to release or if they will have an effect
Neo-Classical bio control definition and pros and cons
Neo-classical: Target native pest with non-native species - MOST SUCCESSFUL
PRO: Totally new associations will be more devastating to pests because the pest has not coevolved with its enemies
CON: Over time, coevolution will theoretically dampen this effect
Conservation bio control definition and pros and cons
Conservation: Using management practices to increase or enhance control by natural enemies already in the environment
PRO: can provide temporary diversity to support beneficials throughout the season
CON: can accidentally outbalance the predator / prey
Define the inoculative versus inundative releases (both augmentative) and when they might be used.
Inoculative: release fewer individuals and expect population growth via reproduction (i.e., several generations across the season) (use when you want the predator around a little longer)
Inundative: release millions on individuals (no reproduction expected), just one generation of targeting the pest (use when you don’t want the predator sticking around as long)
Generalists versus specialists and the differences between an organism’s physiological range and ecological range
Generalists: predators that target many species
Specialists: predators that target a specific species
Physiological range: all potential hosts that can be consumed and support growth and reproduction
Ecological range: hosts that are actually consumed in natural ecosystems
EX: It is physiologically possible for B. communis to use A. monardae as a host, but ecologically improbable cause of where they are
Define what GMOs are (not just what GMO stands for).
An organism whose genome has been altered in a specific way by genetic engineering
EX: a tomato expressing a gene from fish OR
corn that produces! dsRNAs targeting corn rootworm
Understand the differences between genomes, chromosomes, and genes.
Genome: the language cells pass to offspring
Chromosome: a threadlike structure of nucleic acids and protein found in the nucleus of most living cells, carrying genetic information in the form of genes
Gene: a distinct sequence of nucleotides forming part of a chromosome
Understand the differences between genetic changes created through selective breeding and genetic modification.
Selective breeding: choosing parents with particular characteristics to breed together and produce offspring with more desirable characteristics
Genetic modification: transferring a piece of DNA from one organism to a different organism
Understand the different types of traits found in different GMO varieties
EX: non-browning in food,
insect resistance in corn for ethanol or livestock feed,
herbicide tolerance
Understand the importance and utility of new tools such as RNAi and CRISPR
RNAi reduces gene expression at the mRNA level (knockdown), while CRISPR completely and permanently silences the gene at the DNA level (knockout)
Understand how GMOs are created (generally).
“Cut and stitch method” - DNA fragments are cut and combined in sections