Can Nothofagus alpina offer an adaptive response to herbivory?: a study of food preferences of the moth Perzelia arda.

PIETRANTUONO, ANA LAURA; PASTORINO, MARIO J.; MARCHELLI, PAULA; CORLEY, JUAN

Bariloche

Conferencia; International Conference "Adapting forest systems and Wood products to biotic and abiotic stress"; 2019

Laboratorio internacional "Forestia", INRA - INTA

Biotic stress represents a selection pressure that can lead to adaptation if there is genetic variation in the host plants. Raulí (Nothofagus alpina), a tree with ecological and forestry relevance from the Andean-Patagonian forests, is subjected to recurrent attacks of the endemic moth Perzelia arda, which during its larval stage feeds on its leaves. Determining if there is a food preference of this insect for different genetic groups would provide evidence of the possible adaptive capacity of raulí. The objective of this work was to evaluate the dietary preferences of P. arda for different geographical origins of N. alpina. We collected leaves (20 per tree) from a 9-year-old provenance and progeny field-trial and P. arda larvae from the natural forest (n = 369). For the preference tests, we offered the different combinations of leaves between provenances and families (including the control: i.e. Salix sp) and after 24 hours we registered the larvaes´ choice. Our results showed a scale of preference according to the origin of the trees, with Boquete (Lolog Lake) being the most preferred and Tren Tren (Lácar Lake) the least preferred. We also verified intra-population variation, which is evidence of a possible family effect, encouraging future studies. The variations in the palatability of the raulí to the attack of P. arda, would allow the selection of this trait in on going domestication programs.