title: Mapping of QTL for resistance against the crucifer specialist herbivore Pieris brassicae in a new Arabidopsis inbred line population, Da(1)-12 x Ei-2.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In Arabidopsis thaliana and other crucifers, the glucosinolate-myrosinase system contributes to resistance against herbivory by generalist insects. As yet, it is unclear how crucifers defend themselves against crucifer-specialist insect herbivores.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We analyzed natural variation for resistance against two crucifer specialist lepidopteran herbivores, Pieris brassicae and Plutella xylostella, among Arabidopsis thaliana accessions and in a new Arabidopsis recombinant inbred line (RIL) population generated from the parental accessions Da(1)-12 and Ei-2. This RIL population consists of 201 individual F(8) lines genotyped with 84 PCR-based markers. We identified six QTL for resistance against Pieris herbivory, but found only one weak QTL for Plutella resistance. To elucidate potential factors causing these resistance QTL, we investigated leaf hair (trichome) density, glucosinolates and myrosinase activity, traits known to influence herbivory by generalist insects. We identified several previously unknown QTL for these traits, some of which display a complex pattern of epistatic interactions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although some trichome, glucosinolate or myrosinase QTL co-localize with Pieris QTL, none of these traits explained the resistance QTL convincingly, indicating that resistance against specialist insect herbivores is influenced by other traits than resistance against generalists.
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics & Evolution, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pfalz
authors.forename: Heiko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Vogel
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mitchell-Olds
authors.forename: Juergen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kroymann
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000469:parasitology; D001937:Brassica / Q000469:parasitology; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D032461:Chromosomes, Plant / Q000235:genetics; D004843:Epistasis, Genetic; D005961:Glucosinolates / Q000378:metabolism; D006026:Glycoside Hydrolases / Q000378:metabolism; D007915:Lepidoptera / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000469:parasitology*; D040641:Quantitative Trait Loci
chemical_list: D005961:Glucosinolates; D006026:Glycoside Hydrolases; C022739:thioglucosidase