Daniel Sauvard

Induced Responses in Phenolic Metabolism in Two Norway Spruce Clones after Wounding and Inoculations with Ophiostoma polonicum, a Bark Beetle-Associated Fungus.

Two Norway spruce (Picea abies Karst.) clones, one resistant and the other susceptible to mass inoculation with Ophiostoma polonicum Siem., were compared with regard to their phenolic compositions and chalcone synthase (CHS) and stilbene synthase activities of their phloem before and at 6 and 12 d after artificial inoculation with sterile malt agar or O. polonicum. In unwounded phloem, the resistant clone differed from the susceptible clone by the presence of taxifolin glycoside, lower concentrations of stilbene glycosides, and higher CHS activity. After inoculation, (+)-catechin concentration and CHS activity dramatically increased around the wound, particularly in the resistant clone. Stilbene synthase activity also increased, but more slowly and to a lower level, whereas the concentrations of stilbenes remained stable. Tanning ability decreased in the susceptible clone, whereas it remained stable in the resistant one. It is proposed that the induced phenolic response of Norway spruce phloem consists of an activation of the phenolic pathway, finally leading to tannins and insoluble polymers. It is suggested that resistance to O. polonicum depends on the ability of the tree to easily activate the flavonoid pathway.

Human-mediated long-distance jumps of the pine processionary moth in Europe

Although climate change is currently affecting the distribution of many species, insects are particularly impacted because of their high sensitivity to temperature. The pine processionary moth, Thaumetopoea pityocampa, is a forest insect extending its distribution in response to climate warming. Some pioneer colonies were recently detected far beyond the main range, near Paris and in eastern France. This study tracked the origin and pathways of these pioneer colonies through a combined use of genetic markers, measurement of female flight capabilities, and comparative analyses of the natural enemy complexes. This study also aimed to determine the establishment capability beyond the main range, considering the survival rate during two recent cold periods. The larval survival rate was higher in pioneer colonies (which behave like urban heat islands) than in main range. The flight capacity of females would not have allowed them to come from the main range or the nearest established colonies, and molecular tools further showed that individuals from at least three pioneer colonies were not assigned or similar to individuals at the edge of the main range. Egg parasitoids were absent while pupal parasitoids were present in the pioneer colonies suggesting an introduction at the pupal stage. These approaches provided strong evidence that this species has been accidentally moved near Paris and to eastern France, supporting the hypothesis of human-mediated transportation over natural dispersal. This type of dispersal was unexpected because of risks from urticating hairs and the easy detection of the species.

Inter-tree variability in the induced defense reaction of Scots pine to single inoculations by Ophiostoma brunneo-ciliatum, a bark-beetle-associated fungus

Abstract In 1987 and 1988, 100 trees year −1 were characterized by their age, height, diameter, area of sapwood section at breast height and growth efficiency indices. At different periods in the year, they were each inoculated with Ophiostoma brunneo-ciliatum at two diametrically opposite locations on the bole. The characteristics of the induced defense reactions (length of reaction zone and total resin quantity) were read in the phloem. The defense reaction zones of old trees (75–115 years old) always contained a greater total quantity of induced resin than the young trees (27–40 years old). They were also longer than in the young trees in 1987. The length of the reaction zone was smaller in June than later in the year, but the quantity of resin remained the same. Growth efficiency was always negatively correlated with the length of the reaction zone, but its correlation with the total quantity of resin in the young trees varied according to the year. In the young trees, total resin quantity was always positively correlated with tree diameter and area of sapwood section. The results are discussed in relation to the resources involved in the trees induced response and with the levels of attack density thresholds above which the trees defense is overcome. It is suggested that these resources are mainly current photosynthates in the case of young trees, while they could be otherwise in the case of old trees. It is pointed out that whilst there is undoubtedly a relationship between single reactions to individual attacks and growth efficiency, the low correlation coefficients do not allow the conclusion that lesion length or total resin from this reaction can be used as indices of the trees defense capability.

Natural History of the Processionary Moths (Thaumetopoea spp.): New Insights in Relation to Climate Change

It is difficult to find a genus of Lepidoptera showing the high variability of life history traits observed in Thaumetopoea. There are typical summer feeding close to winter feeding species, and in one special case a recent switch has been detected even within one species, the pine processionary moth, indicating that the natural history traits are constantly evolving at a fast rate. There are species adapted to cold conditions of high mountains and high latitude close to truly Mediterranean and sub-desert region species. All species have gregarious behaviour as larva and are protected against vertebrate predators by urticating setae.

Host selection in Tomicus piniperda L.: composition of monoterpene hydrocarbons in relation to attack frequency in the shoot feeding phase.

The aim of this study was to investigate the host selection capacity of the pine shoot beetle, Tomicus piniperda, in the shoot-feeding phase and analyze the chiral and non-chiral host volatiles by means of GC-MS and 2D-GC in five Pinus species originating from France (Pinus sylvestris, P. halepensis, P. nigra laricio, P. pinaster maritima, P. pinaster mesogeensis). Dominating monoterpenes were (-)-α-pinene, (+)-α-pinene, (-)-β-pinene and (+)-3-carene. The amounts of the enantiomers varied considerably within and among the species. In a principal component analysis-plot, based on the absolute amounts of 18 monoterpene hydrocarbons, separation of the pine species into two groups was obtained. P. halepensis and P. sylvestris were grouped according to the amount of (+)-α-pinene and (+)-3-carene, while P. nigra laricio, P. pinaster maritima and P. pinaster mesogeensis were grouped according to (-)-α-pinene and (D)-β-pinene. P. nigra laricio was the species most attacked and P. halepensis the one least attacked by T. piniperda.

Climate Warming and Past and Present Distribution of the Processionary Moths (Thaumetopoea spp.) in Europe, Asia Minor and North Africa

Pine processionary moth, Thaumetopea pityocampa, is a model insect indicator of global warming, the northwards and upwards range expansion of this Mediterranean species being directly associated with the recent warming up. The knowledge about the drivers of moth expansion is synthesized. A first standardized mapping of the northern expansion edge, from Western Europe to Turkey, is presented, then detailed for 20 countries of Europe, Asia Minor and North Africa, including future trends. Additional data about the responses of the other Thaumetopoea species are given. Finally, the chapter points out the importance of the man-mediated introductions in the expansion process.