BACKGROUND Herbivore grazing is a multiple-component process that includes wounding, defoliation, and saliva deposition. Despite the extensive published research on mechanical wounding and defoliation, no analysis to identify the genes that specify defoliation and mechanical wounding has been performed. Moreover, the influence of the expression of these genes on plant regrowth after defoliation...

Spruce budworm (Choristoneura fumiferana (Clem)) is the main defoliator in boreal forest of North America, and its outbreaks have major ecological economic consequences represent a challenge for management. Numerous studies addressed effects this on mature trees, whereas spruce regeneration remain elusive. Furthermore, intensive exploitation practices during last decades left large area Canadia...

Previous studies have indicated that an increased asparagine to glutamine ratio (Asn : Gln) occurs in the xylem fluid of Lolium perenne 24 h after defoliation. However, the absolute changes in Asn and Gln leading to the increased Asn : Gln ratio are unknown. The present study tested the hypotheses that: (1) defoliation-induced changes in xylem amino acid composition occur in L perenne within th...

Since this project is a result of a class assignment, it has been graded and accepted as fulfillment of the course requirements. Acceptance does not imply technical accuracy or reliability. Any use of the information in this report, including numerical data, is done at the risk of the user. These risks may include catastrophic failure of the device or infringement of patent or copyright laws. T...

Wheat plants (Triticum aestivum L., cv. Warigal) were subjected to 20 d of water deficit during the period of endosperm cell division. Drought accentuated the differences in final grain weight between spikelets and between grains within spikelets. The distal grains of top spikelets were most affected by drought. The maximum number of endosperm cells was, respectively, 30 and 40 per cent lower i...

The role of fructans from leaf sheaths for the refoliation of Lolium perenne after severe defoliation was assessed by following the fate of (13)C-fructose supplied to leaf sheaths at the time of defoliation. At the end of the 4 h labelling period on defoliated plants, 77% of the (13)C incorporated was still located in leaf sheaths. Only 4% and 0.9% were, respectively, allocated to stem and root...

ABSTRACT Optimizing the source size and its utilization by the sink is one of the main factors enhancing the yield potential and decreasing water demand in crops when exposed to drought. To investigate the effect of defoliation on leaf water relations, chlorophyll content and yield components of five triticale genotypes including Sanabad, Juanillo, ET-83-3, ET-84-5 and ET-84-8 under well-watere...

Basal defoliation, as one of the most common viticulture management practices to modify fruit zone microclimates, has been widely applied aiming at improving wine quality. Wine aroma contributes greatly to wine quality, yet the effects of basal defoliation on wine aromas show discrepancies according to previous studies. This study is a meta-analysis performed to dissect the factors related to t...

BACKGROUND AND AIMS Both nutrient availability and defoliation affect the carbon-nutrient balance in plants, which in turn influences biomass allocation (e.g. shoot-to-root ratio) and leaf chemical composition (concentration of nitrogen and secondary compounds). In this study it is questioned whether defoliation alters biomass allocation and chemical defence in a similar fashion to the response...

Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) leaf defoliation has a significant ecological and economical impact on cotton production. Thus the utilization of a natural leaf defoliation trait, which exists in wild diploid cotton species, in the development of tetraploid cultivated cotton will not only be cost effective, but will also facilitate production of very high-grade fiber. The primary goal of our res...