Plant signalling
Event preview: Plant signalling, London 4 March 2008
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| Plant signalling offers a revolutionary approach to controlling insect pests |
Plant signalling is an
expanding area of science. It is
becoming increasingly apparent
that plant responses to both biotic
and abiotic stresses are mediated
by complex signalling pathways.
Furthermore, these responses can
be primed by inducing agents. This
presents opportunities for
exploitation in terms of plant
activator treatments, which alter
gene expression within treated
plants. This is very different from
traditional agrochemistry, which
is directed at controlling pathogens
and insect pests using a toxic mode
of action.
Plant signalling crosses
traditional disciplinary boundaries;
clearly chemistry is exploited in
the identification of signals
involved, but plant gene expression
underpins plant signalling events
and thus is also essential to our
understanding of it. For biotic
stresses, insect and pathogen
responses to plant signals need to
be examined. Ecological field
experiments are needed to
determine the real world
implications of modifying plant
signalling.
The one-day SCI symposium on
4 March 2008 in Belgrave Square
will cover recent progress in plant
signalling research, with particular
reference to enhancing plant
defence against insect pests. The
meeting will provide an opportunity
to hear about cutting-edge research
from leading scientists in this field. (click here for programme)
Prof John Pickett (Rothamsted
Research) will start the programme
by explaining how plant defence
metabolism can be enhanced with
a plant activator, cis-jasmone. Prof
Harro Bouwmeester (Wageningen
University) will then describe how
metabolic engineering can be used
to manipulate plant signalling. Dr
Gustavo Bonaventure (Max Planck
Institute for Chemical Ecology) will
present a case study in Nicotiana
attenuata, in which fatty acid-amino
acid conjugates act as elicitors of
herbivore-specific responses.
Prof
Ted Turlings (University of
Neuchâtel) will talk about herbivore-induced
plant odours. Dr Jurriaan
Ton (Utrecht University) will explain
how priming agents can be used to
boost plant resistance to biotic and
abiotic stress. Dr Glen Powell
(Imperial College London) will speak
about how interactions between
plants and aphids can be influenced
by ß-aminobutyric acid. Finally, Dr
Marco Busch (Bayer CropScience)
will talk about plant signalling
cascades induced by herbicide
safeners. There will be opportunities
for discussion during the meeting.
SCI BioResources Group
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