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

PASTORINO, M.; PIETRANTUONO, A.L; CORLEY, J.C; MARCHELLI, P

San Carlos de Bariloche

Conferencia; Adapting forest systems and wood products to biotic and abiotic stress; 2019

Laboratorio internacional "Forestia", INRA - INTA

Bioticstress represents a selection pressure that can lead to adaptation if there isgenetic variation in the host plants. Raulí (Nothofagusalpina), atree with ecological and forestry relevance from the Andean-Patagonian forests,is subjected to recurrent attacks of the endemic moth Perzeliaarda,which during its larval stage feeds on its leaves. Determining if there is afood preference of this insect for different genetic groups would provideevidence of the possible adaptive capacity of raulí. The objective of this work was toevaluate the dietary preferences of P. arda for different geographical origins of N.alpina. Wecollected leaves (20 per tree) from a 9-year-old provenance and progenyfield-trial and P. arda larvae from the natural forest (n =369). For the preference tests, we offered the different combinations of leavesbetween provenances and families (including the control: i.e. Salixsp) andafter 24 hours we registered the larvaes´ choice. Our recí  The variations in the palatability of theraulí tothe attack of P. arda, would allow the selection of this traitin on going domestication programs.