Topic
Planotortrix
About: Planotortrix is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 14 publications have been published within this topic receiving 285 citations.
Papers
TL;DR: It is suggested that differential gene regulation among members of a multigene family may be an important mechanism of molecular innovation in sex pheromone evolution and speciation within the Lepidoptera.
Abstract: Chemical signals are prevalent in sexual communication systems. Mate recognition has been extensively studied within the Lepidoptera, where the production and recognition of species-specific sex pheromone signals are typically the defining character. While the specific blend of compounds that makes up the sex pheromones of many species has been characterized, the molecular mechanisms underpinning the evolution of pheromone-based mate recognition systems remain largely unknown. We have focused on two sets of sibling species within the leafroller moth genera Ctenopseustis and Planotortrix that have rapidly evolved the use of distinct sex pheromone blends. The compounds within these blends differ almost exclusively in the relative position of double bonds that are introduced by desaturase enzymes. Of the six desaturase orthologs isolated from all four species, functional analyses in yeast and gene expression in pheromone glands implicate three in pheromone biosynthesis, two Δ9-desaturases, and a Δ10-desaturase, while the remaining three desaturases include a Δ6-desaturase, a terminal desaturase, and a non-functional desaturase. Comparative quantitative real-time PCR reveals that the Δ10-desaturase is differentially expressed in the pheromone glands of the two sets of sibling species, consistent with differences in the pheromone blend in both species pairs. In the pheromone glands of species that utilize (Z)-8-tetradecenyl acetate as sex pheromone component (Ctenopseustis obliquana and Planotortrix octo), the expression levels of the Δ10-desaturase are significantly higher than in the pheromone glands of their respective sibling species (C. herana and P. excessana). Our results demonstrate that interspecific sex pheromone differences are associated with differential regulation of the same desaturase gene in two genera of moths. We suggest that differential gene regulation among members of a multigene family may be an important mechanism of molecular innovation in sex pheromone evolution and speciation.
61 citations
TL;DR: Genetic studies using enzyme electrophoresis on both laboratory and wild-collected insects have confirmed the pheromone-based separation of the two described species and Morphological studies support the above studies and suggest that one of the C. obliquano taxa can be further separated into two separate entities.
Abstract: Studies on the sex pheromones of the endemic New Zealand greenheaded and brownheaded leafroller moths, Planotortrix excessana (sensu Dugdale 1966) and Ctenopseustis obliquana (sensu Green & Dugdale 1982), have shown that the two described species consist of two and three taxa, respectively, able to be differentiated on the basis of distinct female-produced sex pheromones. Genetic studies using enzyme electrophoresis on both laboratory and wild-collected insects have confirmed the pheromone-based separation of the two described species. Morphological studies support the above studies and also suggest that one of the C. obliquano taxa can be further separated into two separate entities, one in the North Island, and the other in the South and Stewart Islands. Further work is needed to determine whether this difference within this taxon is biologically significant. The pheromone, genetic, and morphological studies are reviewed, with the conclusion that each of the pheromone-based taxa should now be co...
42 citations
TL;DR: The existence of a North Island entity morphologically similar but pheromonally distinct from sympatric obliquana, and morphologically distinct but phersomonally indistinguishable from allopatric herana is reported.
Abstract: Current pheromonal, behavioural, and adult morphological studies force a reassessment of the genera Ctenopseustis Meyrick and Planotortrix Dugdale, which include endemic primary orchard leafroller horticultural pests. Ctenopseustis includes five species: obliquana (Walker) restricted [with spurcatana (Walker) transtrigana (Walker), turbulentana (Walker), ropeana (Felder & Rogenhofer), charactana (Meyrick) as synonyms]; herana (Felder & Rogenhofer), [with inana (Butler) as synonym]; servana (Walker) (synonymy as in Green & Dugdale 1982); fraterna Philpott; and filicis new species. The existence of a North Island entity morphologically similar but pheromonally distinct from sympatric obliquana, and morphologically distinct but pheromonally indistinguishable from allopatric herana is reported. Planotortrix is restricted to excessana (Walker) [with synonym biguttana Walker], octo new species, octoides new species, avicenniae new species, puffini new species flammea (Salmon), and notophaea (Turner). T...
39 citations
TL;DR: The phylogeny inferred from cytochrome oxidase I variation suggests an order for the evolution of the pheromones used by these species, including a number of independent gains and losses of the same phersomone component.
38 citations
TL;DR: Morphological examination supported the chemotaxonomic interpretation that species using Δ 9 - and Δ 10 -uns saturated derived components are distinct from the species that use Δ 11 -unsaturated derived substances.
27 citations
Related Topics (5)
Performance Metrics
| Year | Papers |
|---|---|
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 |