Kyoto Japan 2015

2. Alex CUNNINGHAM
alexcunn@gmail.com
September 2015
Pine trees have develop a strategy to defend
from their natural environmental enemies..
Pinus massoniana - Guangxi, CHINA

3. Alex CUNNINGHAM
alexcunn@gmail.com
September 2015
The bark beetle is one of those enemies
(fungus farming beetle).
http://www.barkbeetles.info/photos_target_species.php?lookUp=491&image=2103_dendroctonus_valens_lat_valley_5478381&curPage=0

4. Photosynthesis
H2O + nutrients
CO2 O2
Sun
Light
Sugars
Alex CUNNINGHAM
alexcunn@gmail.com
September 2015

5. Biosynthesis
Primary
Metabolites
Secondary
Metabolites
For
nutrition,
growth
and
reproduction.
To influence the
ecologica
interaction
between plant and
environment.
Sugars
Cost / Benefit
Relation
Alex CUNNINGHAM
alexcunn@gmail.com
September 2015

6. Secondary Metabolites
TERPENES (25.000 diferente compounds)
Pinenes, abietic acid, taxol, limonene, carotenois,
essential oils, rubber, etc.
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS (12.000 compounds)
Cafeine, nicotine, etc.
PHENOLIC COMPOUNDS (8.000 compounds)
Tanins, flavonoids, ligning, salicilic acid, vainilline, etc.
Alex CUNNINGHAM
alexcunn@gmail.com
September 2015

7. MONOTERPENES
SESQUITERPENES
DITERPENES
TERPENES derive from the union of two
or more ISOPENTENYL DIPHOSPHATE
(IPP) molecules or its isomer DIMETHYL
ALLIL DIPHOSPHATE
geranyl
diphosphate
geranyl geranyl
diphosphate
farnesyl
diphosphate

8. Primary Metabolites
Secondary Metabolites
C02 + Photosynthesis
Eritrose-4-fosfate Fosfoenolpiruvate Piruvate 3-PGA
CA Route MA Route MVA Route MEP Route
Tricarbolxylic Acid Cycle Acetyl CoA
Aliphatic Aminoacids
Aromatic Aminoacids
Nitrogen
Compounds Phenolic
Compounds Terpenes
Source: Taiz, L. et al.; Vegetal Physiology (2004) :312
1 2
Biosynthetic
Routes
Alex CUNNINGHAM
alexcunn@gmail.com
September 2015

9. IPP
DMAPP
IPP
DMAPP
FPP
GPP
GGPP
Sesquiterpenes (C15)
Monoterpenes (C10)
Diterpenes (C20)
Triterpenes (C30)
Tetraterpenes
(C40)
CELULAR
CITOPLASM
PLASTIDS
?
2.5.1.21
5.3.3.2
5.3.3.2
2.5.1.29
2.5.1.10
2.5.1.1
2.5.1.29 2.5.1.10
2.5.1.1
2.5.1.29
1
2
PRIMARY METAB.
PRIMARY METAB. SECONDARY METAB.
SECONDARY METAB.
SECONDARY METAB.
Where are TERPENES produced within the PLANT CELL?
Alex CUNNINGHAM
alexcunn@gmail.com
September 2015

10. Alex CUNNINGHAM
alexcunn@gmail.com
September 2015
Longitudinal
Resin Duct
Resin Duct
Epithelial Cell
Which are the plant cells
that produce OLEORESIN?
The ones that cover internally
the RESIN DUCTS

11. Eloise Gerry (1885 – 1970)
Researcher from the USDA Forest
Products Laboratory, Madison, WC -
USA, earn in 1921 her Doctorate
with a dissertation about “Oleoresin
Production: A Microscopic Study of
the Effects Produced on Woody
Tissues of Southern Pines by
Different Methods of Turpentining”
USDA Bulletin 1064.
PINE OLEORESIN is not SAP!

12. This generates CHEMICAL SIGNALS
that jump starts GENETIC EXPRESSION
for the production of ENZYMES
that biosynthesize TERPENES (OLEORESIN)
that are stored in RESIN DUCTS.
This pathway is know as OLEORESINOSIS.
The answers to those CHEMICAL SIGNALS are multiple,
and also jump starts the biosynthesis of tanins
and lignification of the affected area.
What happens when a beetle (+fungus)
attack the stem of a pine tree?
Alex CUNNINGHAM
alexcunn@gmail.com
September 2015

13. Alex CUNNINGHAM
alexcunn@gmail.com
September 2015
Beetle
+
fungus
Genetic
expression,
enzymes,
oleoresin
biosynthesis.
Oleoresin
storage in
resin ducts.
What happens when a beetle (+fungus)
attack the stem of a pine tree?
Signal
(wound /
chemical)

14. DNA
3) TRANSPORT TO CITOPLASM
2) PROCESSING
1) TRANSCRIPTION
4) TRANSLATION
mRNA
ENZIME
CELL
NUCLEUS
CELL
CITOPLASM
Genetic
Expression
Alex CUNNINGHAM
alexcunn@gmail.com
September 2015

15. Oleoresinosis
Cost / Benefit Strategy
BEFORE THE ATTACK
CONSTITUTIVE DEFENSE = FIX COST
• BIOSYNTHESIS OF OLEORESIN
• STORAGE IN RESIN DUCTS
AFTER THE ATTACK
INDUCED DEFENSE = VARIABLE COST
• denovo BIOSYNTHESIS OF OLEORESIN
• TRAUMATIC RESIN DUCTS FORMATION
SYSTEMIC DEFENCE = REALOCATION OF THE FIX COST
Alex CUNNINGHAM
alexcunn@gmail.com
September 2015

16. • OLEORESINOSIS in conifers could have evolved as a strategy to defend
from the beetle / fungi attack.
• PINE OLEORESIN is a mixture of monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes,
diterpenes and neutral compounds.
• OLEORESIN in the stem of the pine tree is produced permanently by the
epitelial cells that cover the internal walls of the resin ducts in the xylem.
• OLEORESIN is store under positive preassure.
• Some Pine species presente an induced responce in the floema (place of
the invasion) to a patogenic attack.
Tesis: Faldt, Jenny (2000)
Volatil constituents in conifers and conifer-related wood decaying fungi.
Oleoresinosis
Alex CUNNINGHAM
alexcunn@gmail.com
September 2015

17. How does this view from the stand point of
PLANT PHYSIOLOGY or PLANT ECOLOGY
relates with what we do when we TAP a
PINE TREE to produce PINE OLEORESIN?
Alex CUNNINGHAM
alexcunn@gmail.com
September 2015

18. Bark beetle
Associated fungus
STREAK TO REMOVE BARK
(WOUND)
CHEMICAL STIMULATION
(PASTE w/CEPA, SA, MeJa...)


PINE TAPPER PLANT ECOLOGIST
Alex CUNNINGHAM
alexcunn@gmail.com
September 2015
PARALELISM !

19. Alex CUNNINGHAM
alexcunn@gmail.com
September 2015