Author
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Schmelz, Eric |
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Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only Publication Acceptance Date: 5/23/2014 Publication Date: N/A Citation: N/A Interpretive Summary: Technical Abstract: Dynamic plant defense responses to biotic attack involve the perception of specific biochemical elicitors associated with the offending agent, activation of signaling cascades, and the production of small molecules with complex protective roles. Chemical analyses are essential empirical tools for elucidating many levels of these plant innate immune responses. We briefly summarize our use of targeted metabolomics and highlight the utility of these approaches in understanding crop plant defenses. Enabled by the significant use of gas chromatography (GC) / mass spectrometry (MS) we discuss the quantitative relationships of phytohormones with induced plant volatiles and detail the discovery of 1) novel insect-associated elicitors, 2) two new classes of maize phytoalexins, and 3) new oxylipin defenses and signals. In each example, the careful consideration of tissue type, age, localization, timing and minor unknown analytes is essential for research progress. |
