Plant resistance to herbivores can be influenced not only by the independent effects of plant genotype and environmental variation, but by interactions between the two. The main aim of this study was to assess the effects of environmental variability (nutrient treatment) on the known genetic-based expression of resistance and defensive chemistry of Eucalyptus globulus to browsing by the generalist mammalian herbivore Trichosurus vulpeculaf. In a captive feeding trial, we measured intake of seedlings from one relatively resistant (Blue Gum Hill) and one relatively susceptible (St Helens) population of E. globulus grown under two nutrient treatments (no fertiliser, plus fertiliser). There was a significant genotypexfertiliser interaction effect on intake of E. globulus foliage by T. vulpecula, and the predicted genetic-based resistance of the two populations was expressed only for the non-fertilised treatment. Expression of resistance largely reflected the combined and inverse effects of nitrogen and condensed tannin concentrations. The expression of plant secondary metabolite concentration differed between compounds, but in all cases the effects of plant genotype and fertiliser treatment were independent. The formylated phloroglucinol compounds differed significantly between genotypes but not between fertiliser treatments. In contrast, the effect of plant genotype on the expression of condensed tannins was weak but they were significantly reduced by fertiliser. Essential oils were influenced by both plant genotype and fertiliser treatment and were significantly higher in the fertilised seedlings than in the non-fertilised seedlings. This study highlights interactive effects of plant genotype and environment in influencing the phenotypic expression of resistance in a eucalypt species to a mammalian browser. It also demonstrates that this interactive effect is the net result of independent effects of genotype and environment on plant chemistry and finally, that different groups of compounds within a plant can respond very differently to variation in environmental conditions. © Springer-Verlag 2004.

Item Type:	Refereed Article
Research Division:	Biological Sciences
Research Group:	Evolutionary biology
Research Field:	Evolutionary biology not elsewhere classified
Objective Division:	Environmental Management
Objective Group:	Terrestrial systems and management
Objective Field:	Control of pests, diseases and exotic species in terrestrial environments
UTAS Author:	O'Reilly-Wapstra, JM (Associate Professor Julianne O'Reilly-Wapstra)
UTAS Author:	Potts, BM (Professor Brad Potts)
UTAS Author:	McArthur, C (Dr Clare McArthur)
UTAS Author:	Davies, NW (Associate Professor Noel Davies)
ID Code:	32846
Year Published:	2005
Web of Science® Times Cited:	41
Deposited By:	Plant Science
Deposited On:	2005-08-01
Last Modified:	2009-07-31
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