Genetic control of natural variation in Arabidopsis glucosinolate accumulation.

Journal Article (Journal Article)

Glucosinolates are biologically active secondary metabolites of the Brassicaceae and related plant families that influence plant/insect interactions. Specific glucosinolates can act as feeding deterrents or stimulants, depending upon the insect species. Hence, natural selection might favor the presence of diverse glucosinolate profiles within a given species. We determined quantitative and qualitative variation in glucosinolates in the leaves and seeds of 39 Arabidopsis ecotypes. We identified 34 different glucosinolates, of which the majority are chain-elongated compounds derived from methionine. Polymorphism at only five loci was sufficient to generate 14 qualitatitvely different leaf glucosinolate profiles. Thus, there appears to be a modular genetic system regulating glucosinolate profiles in Arabidopsis. This system allows the rapid generation of new glucosinolate combinations in response to changing herbivory or other selective pressures. In addition to the qualitative variation in glucosinolate profiles, we found a nearly 20-fold difference in the quantity of total aliphatic glucosinolates and were able to identify a single locus that controls nearly three-quarters of this variation.

Full Text

Duke Authors

Cited Authors

  • Kliebenstein, DJ; Kroymann, J; Brown, P; Figuth, A; Pedersen, D; Gershenzon, J; Mitchell-Olds, T

Published Date

  • June 2001

Published In

Volume / Issue

  • 126 / 2

Start / End Page

  • 811 - 825

PubMed ID

  • 11402209

Pubmed Central ID

  • PMC111171

Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)

  • 1532-2548

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

  • 0032-0889

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1104/pp.126.2.811

Language

  • eng