Event

PhD Oral Defense: Plant Cellular Signaling in Response to Wounding or Caterpillar Herbivory

Friday, October 10, 2014 09:15
Macdonald-Stewart Building MS2-022 (Faculty Lounge), 21111 Lakeshore Road, St Anne de Bellevue, QC, H9X 3V9, CA

PhD Oral Defense of Jamuna Risal Paudel, Department of Plant Science

Plants have complex signaling networks in response to wounding or caterpillar herbivory. The phytohormone jasmonic acid (JA) mediates the principal plant defense response pathway against caterpillar herbivory. However, some larval species manipulate host plant responses leading to the attenuation of this induced resistance (IR). Although the exact mechanism of the insect subversion of JA-mediated IR is not clearly understood, effectors in the labial salivary secretions of generalist Noctuid caterpillars, such as Spodoptera exigua, are known to activate the salicylic acid (SA)-mediated pathway that antagonize JA responses. Since the caterpillar labial saliva contains significant levels of oxido-reductive enzymes, such as glucose oxidase, it can manipulate cellular redox balance in plant tissues. Similarly, these effectors may activate the ethylene (ET) pathway leading to the modulation of JA pathway.


Everyone in the McGill community is welcome to attend a PhD oral defense. Please join us in celebrating the accomplishments of our PhD candidates.

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