2012 Program (PDF) - International Society of Chemical Ecology

Tuesday 24th July, 9:00 – 10:00 hA new dawn for chemical ecology in pest management: delivering chemicalecological pest management tools via the seed using molecular breeding andgenetic manipulation in crop plantsPICKETT JA ,Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, UKjohn.pickett@rothamsted.ac.ukThe study of the chemical ecology of plant/insect interactions has defined not only the manytypes of secondary plant metabolites involved, but has also elucidated sophisticatedmechanisms by which plants can exploit intervention from the higher trophic level and benefitfrom plant/plant interactions. The evolutionary role of these phenomena is still a matter forinvestigation, but the semiochemicals involved are already proving to be valuable tools inpest management. These semiochemicals can be developed by production in crop plants,utilising molecular breeding or genetic manipulation (1). An important aspect will be deliverythrough the seed, which is more sustainable than application of formulated chemicals to thecrop and can utilise non-toxic modes of action together with non-constitutive expression(2,3), in contrast to the first generation of crops genetically modified for pest management.References1. Physiological Entomology (2012) 37:2-9.2. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA (2008) 105:4553-4558.3. Ecology Letters (2011) 14:1075-1083.AcknowledgementsThis research was supported by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences ResearchCouncil (BBSRC), UK.26