Variation in plant defense traits and population genetics within a Sonoran Desert cotton endemic, Gossypium davidsonii and boll weevil, Anthonomus grandis

摘要: Variation in plant defense phenotypes is often related to biotic and abiotic environmental conditions. In this study we investigate populations the wild cotton, Gossypium davidsonii, determine extent which leaf traits secondary chemistry trichome production exhibit plastic responses variation herbivory, water, nutrient levels. Populations of G. davidsonii were subjected two experiments under greenhouse conditions: (1) young, eight-leaf stage plants mechanical damage test effect simulated herbivory on phenotypes, (2) three month-old water treatments (high low) a factorial design for their effects phenotypes. Response variables these analyses density (no./cm 2 ), gossypol concentration (mg/kg dry leaf), gossypol-containing lysigenous cavities ). Despite relatively large differences conditions imposed by our experiments, found that most observed phenotypic each trait was attributable genetically-based among populations. Nonetheless, discovered higher levels or stress had lower overall values. The high