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Useful LinksInsect Molecular Biology Group
| When aphids (Myzus persicae) are attacked they release an alarm pheromone (E),b-farnesene (EbF), which causes other aphids to disperse. Many plants also make EbF but the co-synthesis of inhibitory compounds allows aphids to overcome the potential repellancy. |
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We have cloned genes encoding EbF synthases from plants
and are now screening cDNA expression libraries to clone the corresponding genes from aphids. Putting these genes into crop plants may enable them to repel aphids and reduce the need for chemical control
|
Prosser, I.M., Adams, R.T., Beale, M.H., Hawkins, N.D., Phillips, A.L., Pickett, J.A. and Field, L.M. (2006). Cloning and functional characterisation of a cis-muuroladiene synthase from Black Peppermint (Mentha x piperita) and direct evidence for a chemotype unable to synthesise farnesenes. Phytochem. 67, 1564-1571.
Beale, M.H., Birkett, M.A., Bruce, T.J.A., Chamberlain, K., Field, L.M., Huttly, A.K., Martin, J.L., Parker, R., Phillips, A.L., Pickett, J.A., Prosser, I.M., Shewry, P.R., Smart, L.E., Wadhams, L.J., Woodcock, C.M. and Zhang, Y. (2006). Aphid alarm pheromone produced by transgenic plants affects aphid and parasitoid behaviour. Proc. Natl. Acad Sci. USA 103, 10509-10513.