The effects of CO2 and O3 on paper birch resistance to bronze birch borer.

Thumbnail Image

Files

Muilenburg OARDC Conference 2009.pdf (3.37 MB)

Date

2009-03-31T17:56:46Z

Authors

Muilenburg, Vanessa L.

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Research Projects

Organizational Units

Journal Issue

Abstract

Plant defense theory generally predicts that increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) will increase plant resistance to herbivores while increases in stressors like atmospheric ozone (O3) are predicted to decrease plant resistance.Mechanisms of tree resistance against wood-boring beetles like bronze birch borer are poorly understood.We investigated the effects of elevated CO2 and O3 on patterns of bronze birch borer colonization and paper birch resistance to bronze birch borer. Bronze birch borer colonization was higher in birch growing in elevated O3 and elevated CO2. Total pools of secondary metabolites did not explain colonization patterns and birch resistance. Nitrogen is a limiting factor to insect development and changes in concentration or form of available nitrogen may contribute to birch resistance.

Description

Keywords

elevated CO2, plant resistance

Citation

URI

http://hdl.handle.net/1811/36584

Collections

Poster Presentations (OARDC)