Author
Ronny Groenteman
groentemanr@landcareresearch.co.nz
Bioeconomy Science Institute – Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research group
Lincoln, NZ
Coauthors
Arvind Subbaraj, Bioeconomy Science Institute – AgResearch group, Lincoln, New Zealand
Andrea Clavijo McCormick, MPI, Wellington, New Zealand
Michael Cripps, Lincoln University, Lincoln, New Zealand
Waipaina Awarau-Morris, Bioeconomy Science Institute – AgResearch group, Ruakura, New Zealand
Abstract
Host range testing for weed biocontrol agents is primarily based on phylogenetic relatedness of the test species to the target weed, but this approach has limitations, sometimes leading to misinterpretations and false positives. New techniques, like metabolite profiling (metabolomics) may throw new light on host plant selection, not obtainable from the centrifugal phylogenetic approach alone, potentially minimising some issues associated with traditional approaches. We will present results from one case study used to test this concept: The Chilean flame creeper beetle Blaptea elguetai Petitpierre and non-target test species in the plant order Brassicales. The species list for testing this candidate agent, based on the centrifugal phylogenetic approach included multiple plant families in the order Brassicales, and resulted in a disjunct pattern of families that turned out to be included in the fundamental host range of the beetle, namely, Moringaceae and Brassicaceae, on top of the family of the target weed, Tropaeolaceae. Our study applies metabolomics approaches to seek a chemical rationale for this host range, thereby showcasing potential similarities and/or differences compared to the centrifugal phylogenetic approach. We will discuss metabolite relatedness as a tool to predict host preference (or otherwise) in the natural environment and therefore the role of metabolomics in supporting existing risk assessment practices.
keywords
Metabolomics
Risk assessment
Host range
Chilean flame creeper beetle
Highlights
The centrifugal phylogenetic approach can struggle to explain disjunct patterns of host range
We tested if metabolite profiling (metabolomics) can improve prediction of host plant selection