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Plant-Insect Interactions

The effect of a mealybug infestation on the activity of amino acid decarboxylases in orchid leaves

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Pages 825-831 | Received 14 Apr 2014, Accepted 08 Aug 2014, Published online: 24 Dec 2014
 

Abstract

Changes in the activity of lysine decarboxylase (LDC), tyrosine decarboxylase (TyDC), and ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) within orchid (Phalaenopsis × hybridum ‘Innocence’) leaves, infested by two mealybug species: Pseudococcus longispinus (Targ. Tozz.) and Pseudococcus maritimus (Ehrh.) were quantified. The pattern of changes was dependent on the insect species and duration of infestation. P. longispinus feeding increased LDC and TyDC activity after one week during the total period of observations. This species inhibited ODC activity after one week but increased later. P. maritimus decreased LDC activity in orchid leaves at all studied terms. TyDC action also went up during the first week of the infestation and was reduced after two weeks, while ODC was decreased after one day and induced later. The mechanism for the participation of analysed amino acid decarboxylases in local and/or systemic steps of orchid responses to mealybug infestation is discussed.

Funding

The study was financed by Siedlce University of Natural Science and Humanities (Scientific Research Project 245/08/S) and University of Life Sciences in Lublin (Project no. OKE/DS/2 in 2013–2017).

Additional information

Funding

Funding: The study was financed by Siedlce University of Natural Science and Humanities (Scientific Research Project 245/08/S) and University of Life Sciences in Lublin (Project no. OKE/DS/2 in 2013–2017).