Nutrition Of Loranthaceae

Author : Kiara O'Gorman
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 262 pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (853 download)

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Download or read book The Chemical Ecology of an Australian Loranthaceae written by Kiara O'Gorman and published by . This book was released on 2012 with total page 262 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This project examined the Australian grey mistletoe Amyema quandang and its host Acacia dealbata (silver wattle) in Victoria. One of the aims of this project was to determine the spectrum of secondary metabolites found in Amyema quandang. To do this, the possibility of growing mistletoe independently of a host (to remove the possibility of finding sequestered host secondary metabolites) was examined. Additionally, plants were sampled in the field at two sites in northern Victoria and one in the south. Secondary metabolites found in Amyema quandang parasitising Acacia dealbata trees, as well as those found in the host plant and a paired uninfected Acacia dealbata were quantified. Uninfected Acacia dealbata trees were used as a reference and to determine if the mistletoe had any effect on the host's secondary metabolite concentration or type, as well as to quantify any potential immunity to parasitism. The project also examined whether the quantity and profile of the secondary metabolites was related to the site or soil properties. Amyema quandang (grey mistletoe) contained higher concentrations of total phenolics, and tannins than Acacia dealbata (silver wattle). Grey mistletoe also had a higher overall carbon to nitrogen ratio. No significant differences were detected between infected and uninfected Acacia dealbata. However, total concentrations of tannins and phenolics varied between sites for all plants. Further analysis using LC MS indicated that all Amyema quandang samples contained two tannin/phenolics compounds that were not found in Acacia dealbata, suggesting that these compounds are a product of the mistletoe and had not been sequestered from its host. Although there was no difference in secondary compounds between infected and uninfected Acacia dealbata, infected plants at two sites had a larger girth than uninfected plants. However, there was no difference between height of infected and uninfected plants. Girth can be used as a measure of age, indicating that infected plants are potentially older than uninfected plants. This could indicate either a decrease in growth associated with being infected or merely that older plants are more likely to be infected. This did not occur at the southern site and subsequent soil nutrient analysis indicated that this site had higher concentrations of nutrients. The difference between foliar macronutrient content in grey mistletoe and silver wattle varied for each element. The elemental composition of grey mistletoe was related to the soil nutrient profile at each site. Although there was some variation between sites, no significant differences in foliar nutrients between infected and uninfected silver wattle were detected at any site. The results of this project have contributed some key findings about the nature and identity of secondary metabolites in an Australian species of mistletoe. Additionally, this project has been able to build on the knowledge of plant-plant interactions, which had previously been restricted to growth and development in this system.