Evol Ecol Res 4: 155-168 (2002)     Full PDF if your library subscribes.

Plasticity in cyanogenesis of Trifolium repens L.: inducibility, fitness costs and variable expression

Katherine J. Hayden* and Ingrid M. Parker

Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA

Address all correspondence to Katherine J. Hayden, Ecosystem Sciences, Department of Environmental Science,

ABSTRACT

The polymorphism for cyanogenesis – the production of cyanide by damaged tissue – in white clover (Trifolium repens L.) has long been a model system for studying the maintenance of genetic variability. The prevailing model holds that opposing selective forces maintain the polymorphism; cyanogenesis protects the clover from herbivory, but incurs a cost of defence at lower temperatures and under drought. To date, most studies of cyanogenesis have focused on the presence or absence of the trait, although there is evidence of variability in expression within individuals. It is known that inducibility in some plant defence systems alleviates costs by initiating or increasing the expression of a costly defence only when it is most needed. It follows, then, that defences might also be downregulated when they are likely to be most costly. We used a modified Feigl-Anger assay to quantify the extent of cyanogenesis (both cyanoglucoside and β-glucosidase enzyme) in clones of T. repens under different environmental conditions, historically associated with the costs and benefits of the polymorphism. Neither simulated herbivory nor herbivory by the snail Helix aspersa resulted in a significant increase in expression of cyanogenesis (cyanoglucoside or enzyme). Therefore, we conclude that cyanogenesis is not an inducible defence. However, drought stress led to an apparent decrease in activity of β-glucosidase in samples with amplified linamarin concentrations. Furthermore, genotypes showed significantly weaker expression when grown in cold than when grown in warm temperatures. Our results suggest that some conditions that favour acyanogenic plants may also result in a decreased expression in cyanogenic morphs – a plasticity that changes our understanding of the selective forces at work in this system.

Keywords: chemistry, cost of defence, cyanogenesis, plant defence, plasticity.

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        © 2002 Katherine J. Hayden. All EER articles are copyrighted by their authors. All authors endorse, permit and license Evolutionary Ecology Ltd. to grant its subscribing institutions/libraries the copying privileges specified below without additional consideration or payment to them or to Evolutionary Ecology, Ltd. These endorsements, in writing, are on file in the office of Evolutionary Ecology, Ltd. Consult authors for permission to use any portion of their work in derivative works, compilations or to distribute their work in any commercial manner.

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