Influence of fatty acid metabolism in plants on defense responses to aphid herbivory
F. GOGGIN (1) (1) University of Arkansas, U.S.A.

Fatty acids are essential components of membrane lipids, and are also precursors for synthesis of oxylipins, a diverse family of molecules that contribute to plant signaling and defense. Numerous stresses including insect herbivory cause changes in fatty acid metabolism, including accumulation of free fatty acids and altered expression of fatty acid desaturases and dioxygenases.  Here, we explore the influence of plant fatty acid metabolism on levels of resistance to aphids and other stresses in Arabidopsis using a combination of transcriptomics, lipidomics, phenomics, and function genomic approaches.  Our results indicate that omega-3 fatty acid desaturases promote susceptibility to aphids and influence constitutive redox status and salicylate signaling in response to aphid infestations.  In contrast, alpha-dioxygenase 1 (DOX1), which contributes to oxylipin synthesis, promotes aphid resistance.  High throughput phenotyping also revealed that DOX1 contributes to drought tolerance, indicating overlap between plant defenses against biotic and abiotic stresses. These results shed light on mechanisms of plant defense against phloem-feeding herbivores, as well as the influence of fatty acid metabolism on plant defense. 

Abstract Number: P16-451
Session Type: Poster