European oak chemical diversity – from ecotypes to herbivore resistance

• DOI: 10.1111/nph.17608
• Publication Date: 2021-07-09T08:50:21Z
• Authors: Marko Bertić; Hilke Schroeder; Birgit Kersten; Matthias Fladung; Franziska Orgel; Franz Buegger; Jörg‐Peter Schnit...; Andrea Ghirardo
• Keywords: Quercus robur; Ecotype; Metabolome; Secondary metabolism

Summary Climate change is increasing insect pressure and forcing plants to adapt. Although chemotypic differentiation phenotypic plasticity in spatially separated tree populations are known for decades, understanding their importance herbivory resistance across forests remains challenging. We studied four oak forest stands Germany using nontarget metabolomics, elemental analysis, chemometrics mapped the leaf metabolome of herbivore‐resistant (T‐) herbivore‐susceptible (S‐) European oaks ( Quercus robur ) Tortrix viridana , an pest that causes severe defoliation. Among detected metabolites, we identified reliable metabolic biomarkers distinguish S‐ T‐oak trees. Chemotypic resulted shifts primary secondary metabolism. Across forests, T‐oaks allocate resources towards constitutive chemical defense enriched polyphenolic compounds, e.g. flavonoids kaempferol, kaempferol quercetin glucosides, while S‐oaks growth‐promoting substances such as carbohydrates amino‐acid derivatives. This extensive work natural shows oaks' susceptibility linked growth‐defense trade‐offs The discovery developed predictive model pave way understand 's herbivore attack support management, contributing preservation Europe.