Natural variation in linalool metabolites: One genetic locus, many functions?. Issue 8 (25th June 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: He, Jun; Halitschke, Rayko; Baldwin, Ian T.; Schuman, Meredith C.
• Is Part Of: Journal of integrative plant biology. Volume 63:Issue 8(2021)
• Page Start: 1416
• Page End: 1421
• Publication Date: 2021-06-25
• Subjects: conjugated linalool -- Nicotiana attenuata -- Spodoptera littoralis; Plants -- Periodicals; Plants -- China -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 580.5
• DOI: 10.1111/jipb.13104
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1672-9072

Abstract

Summary: The ubiquitous volatile linalool is metabolized in plants to nonvolatile derivatives. We studied Nicotiana attenuata plants which naturally vary in ( S )‐(+)‐linalool contents, and lines engineered to produce either ( R )‐(‐)‐ or ( S )‐(+)‐linalool. Only ( S )‐(+)‐linalool production was associated with slower growth of a generalist herbivore, and a large fraction was present as nonvolatile derivatives. We found that variation in volatile linalool and its nonvolatile glycosides mapped to the same genetic locus which harbored the biosynthetic gene, NaLIS, but that free linalool varied more in environmental responses. This study reveals how ( S )‐(+)‐linalool and conjugates differ in their regulation and possible functions in resistance. Abstract : Engineering wild tobacco plants to produce the volatile terpenoid linalool slowed the growth of a generalist herbivore, and a large fraction of linalool was present as non‐volatile derivatives. Natural variation of volatile and non‐volatile linalool was mapped to the same genetic locus, but free linalool is more responsive to environmental conditions.