The defensive function of cyanogenesis in natural populations

Ellis, Wayne; Keymer, R J; Jones, David A.

doi:10.1007/bf02002797

Cited by 25 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…In several species which show spatial variation in relation to temperature and other abiotic environmental features, chemical forms also show differential resistance to herbivory, e.g. Trifolium repens (Jones 1973; Dirzo & Harper 1982a,b; Hughes 1991), Lotus corniculatus (Ellis et al. 1977; Compton et al.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Differential resistance to freezing and spatial distribution in a chemically polymorphic plant Thymus vulgaris

et al. 2005

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Secondary compounds play multiple ecological roles. In this study, we present novel experimental evidence of differential tolerance to freezing temperatures among chemotypes of a chemically polymorphic plant, Thymus vulgaris. Non-phenolic chemotypes showed a significantly better survival and re-growth after early-winter freezing ()10°in early December) than phenolic chemotypes. Comparison of temperature data at a phenolic and non-phenolic site showed that whereas early-winter freezing occurred in 6 years in the non-phenolic site they never occurred at the phenolic site. Observations of trichome morphology (where the essential oil is stocked) with and without intense freezing indicate that non-phenolic chemotypes may escape any negative effects of freezing by releasing their essential oil into the atmosphere during severe freezing. The correlation between tolerance of freezing and local temperature regimes strongly suggests that differential freezing resistance is a key ingredient of the distribution of thyme chemotypes in space.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Differential resistance to freezing and spatial distribution in a chemically polymorphic plant Thymus vulgaris

et al. 2005

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“…The most reasonable explanation is that the wind-borne salt is responsible for the distribution of the molluscsit is common knowledge that the activity and distribution of many garden gastropods can be restricted with NaCI-so that where mollusc numbers are high, the percentage cyanogenesis is also high and vice versa. If this is true then we have clear evidence for the defensive rolc of cyanogenesis in natural populations (Ellis et al, 1977). A further implication is that cyanogenic plants are at some disadvantage on exposed cliff sites.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 78%

On the polymorphism of cyanogenesis in Lotus corniculatus L.

1977

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SUMMARYThe environmental factors influencing a steep morph-ratio dine in a maritime population of Lotus corniculatus have been studied in detail. The frequency distribution of cyanogenic plants in the dine has remained stable for 16 years, plants very near the sea being predominantly acyanogenic, whereas 200 m inland 70 per cent of the plants are cyanogenic. Analyses of the biotic, edaphic and microclimatic environment of this population showed that an exposure gradient (wind and windborne salt) and the distribution of known selective herbivores were the only factors which were consistently associated with the dine.On the basis of these results and the hypothesis that cyanogenesis is a protection against herbivores it was predicted that other sites along the coast, which showed similar environmental variation, should also show a similar distribution of selective herbivores and of cyanogenic plants. It was confirmed that at sites exposed to wind and windborne salt the selective herbivores were rare and the frequency of cyanogenic plants was low. At sites which were less exposed, the numbers of selective herbivores and the frequency of cyanogenic plants were both higher.

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“…Mixtures of cyanogenic and acyanogenic individuals are, however, more common in temperate ecosystems (e.g. Cooper-Driver and Swain 1976; Ellis et al 1977;Urbanska 1982;Conn et al 1985;Hughes 1991;Aikman et al 1996;Goodger et al 2002;Woodrow et al 2002).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cyanogenesis in the Australian tropical rainforest endemic Brombya platynema (Rutaceae): chemical characterisation and polymorphism

Miller

Simon

Woodrow

2006

Functional Plant Biol.

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Abstract. This study examined two aspects of cyanogenesis in Brombya platynema F. Muell. (Rutaceae), a subcanopy tree endemic to tropical rainforest in far north Queensland, Australia. First, cyanogenic glycosides in foliage were fractionated and identified. The rare meta-hydroxylated cyanogenic glycoside, holocalin, was identified as the principal cyanogen, and traces of prunasin and amygdalin were detected. This is the first characterisation of cyanogenic constituents within the genus, and to the authors' knowledge, only the third within the Rutaceae, and the order Rutales. Second, variation in cyanogenic glycoside content within a population of B. platynema in lowland tropical rainforest was quantified. Both qualitative and quantitative polymorphism for cyanogenesis was identified. Interestingly, ∼57% of individuals were considered acyanogenic, with concentrations of cyanogenic glycosides less than 8 µg CN g −1 DW. Among cyanogenic individuals there was substantial quantitative variation in cyanogenic glycoside concentration, which varied from 10.5 to 1285.9 µg CN g −1 DW. This high frequency of acyanogenic individuals is contrasted with the apparent absence of the acyanogenesis among populations of other tropical rainforest tree species. In the high herbivory environment of the tropical rainforest, this frequency of acyanogenesis among cyanogenic tropical tree taxa is unique.

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The defensive function of cyanogenesis in natural populations

Cited by 25 publications

References 9 publications

Differential resistance to freezing and spatial distribution in a chemically polymorphic plant Thymus vulgaris

Differential resistance to freezing and spatial distribution in a chemically polymorphic plant Thymus vulgaris

On the polymorphism of cyanogenesis in Lotus corniculatus L.

Cyanogenesis in the Australian tropical rainforest endemic Brombya platynema (Rutaceae): chemical characterisation and polymorphism

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