University of Tasmania
Browse

File(s) under permanent embargo

The extended community-level effects of genetic variation in foliar wax chemistry in the forest tree Eucalyptus globulus

journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-19, 10:01 authored by Gosney, B, Julianne O'Reilly-WapstraJulianne O'Reilly-Wapstra, Lynette ForsterLynette Forster, Whiteley, C, Bradley PottsBradley Potts
Genetic variation in foundation trees can influence dependent communities, but little is known about the mechanisms driving these extended genetic effects. We studied the potential chemical drivers of genetic variation in the dependent foliar community of the focal tree Eucalyptus globulus. We focus on the role of cuticular waxes and compare the effects to that of the terpenes, a well-studied group of secondary compounds known to be bioactive in eucalypts. The canopy community was quantified based on the abundance of thirty-nine distinctive arthropod and fungal symptoms on foliar samples collected from canopies of 246 progeny from 13 E. globulus sub-races grown in a common garden trial. Cuticular waxes and foliar terpenes were quantified using gas chromatography - mass spectrometry (GC-MC). A total of 4 of the 13 quantified waxes and 7 of the 16 quantified terpenes were significantly associated with the dependent foliar community. Variation in waxes explained 22.9% of the community variation among sub-races, which was equivalent to that explained by terpenes. In combination, waxes and terpenes explained 35% of the genetic variation among sub-races. Only a small proportion of wax and terpene compounds showing statistically significant differences among sub-races were implicated in community level effects. The few significant waxes have previously shown evidence of divergent selection in E. globulus, which signals that adaptive variation in phenotypic traits may have extended effects. While highlighting the role of the understudied cuticular waxes, this study demonstrates the complexity of factors likely to lead to community genetic effects in foundation trees.

Funding

Australian Research Council

Greening Australia (Tasmania)

History

Publication title

Journal of Chemical Ecology

Volume

43

Issue

5

Pagination

532-542

ISSN

0098-0331

Department/School

School of Natural Sciences

Publisher

Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publ

Place of publication

233 Spring St, New York, USA, Ny, 10013

Rights statement

Copyright 2017 Springer Science+Business Media New York

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Forestry not elsewhere classified

Usage metrics

    University Of Tasmania

    Exports

    RefWorks
    BibTeX
    Ref. manager
    Endnote
    DataCite
    NLM
    DC