(Press-News.org) Contact information: Joan Robinson
joan.robinson@springer.com
49-622-148-78130
Springer
Geography has impact on grapevine moth's success in French vineyards
Study sheds light on how regional differences, local temperatures influence immune function of pests
'Location, location, location' is an adage also true for the European grapevine moth, it seems. Research led by Fanny Vogelweith of the Université de Bourgogne and INRA Bordeaux-Aquitaine in France has shown that these pests are better adapted and more successful in certain French wine-growing regions than in others, because of the variety of grape on which they occur and the abundance of their natural enemies around them. The findings were published in Springer's journal Naturwissenschaften – The Science of Nature.
The European grapevine moth (Lobesia botrana) is a major grape pest in Europe because of its wide geographical distribution. The damage caused when its larvae feed on grape berries makes infection by pathogenic fungi, including the grey and black mold, easier. This leads to losses suffered by farmers.
To further understand the moth, Vogelweith's team assessed how the immune variation of its wild populations is influenced by its host plants and natural enemies. This is an important factor, as the maintenance of the immune system is generally a costly affair for most organisms and can inhibit growth and spread.
The research team therefore collected and measured larvae from up to five grape varieties from vineyards in six French viticulture regions, namely Alsace, Aquitaine, Bourgogne, Champagne-Ardenne, Rhône-Alpes, and Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur. Parasites found on these larvae were also collected and analyzed.
The researchers found a marked geographical variation in the immune defense and the level of parasitism among natural populations of the grapevine moth. The more parasites found in a vineyard, the higher the investment in immune defense rather than body growth. This suggests that immune defense is metabolically expensive.
Larvae sampled in the southern area from the Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, and Pinot Noir varieties tended to have a greater number of immune-related hemocyte cells and a higher level of antimicrobial activity than larvae sampled from these varieties in the northern area. These geographical variations within the same grape variety could be ascribed to the mean local temperature differences along a north–south gradient experienced from Champagne-Ardenne and Alsace in the north to Aquitaine and Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur in the south.
"The findings emphasize the roles of host plants and parasitoids as selective forces that shape host immune functions under natural conditions," says Vogelweith. "Studies such as these are central to understanding natural variations in immune functions, and the selective forces beyond." She added that further research is necessary to clarify the influence of grape variety on the immune system.
###
Reference: Vogelweith, F. et al (2013). Geographical variation in parasitism shapes larval immune function in a phytophagous insect, Naturwissenschaften – The Science of Nature DOI 10.1007/s00114-013-1119-1
The full-text article is available to journalists on request.
Geography has impact on grapevine moth's success in French vineyards
Study sheds light on how regional differences, local temperatures influence immune function of pests
2014-01-08
ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:
Laundering money -- literally -- could save billions of dollars
2014-01-08
Laundering money -- literally -- could save billions of dollars
A dollar bill gets around, passing from hand to hand, falling on streets and sidewalks, eventually getting so grimy that a bank machine flags it and sends it to the shredder. Rather than destroying ...
Newly discovered celestial object defies categories
2014-01-08
Newly discovered celestial object defies categories
Scientists asking if it is a new kind of planet or a rare kind of failed star
TORONTO, ON – An object discovered by astrophysicists at the University of Toronto (U of T) nearly 500 light years away from the Sun ...
Metal ink could ease the way toward flexible electronic books, displays
2014-01-08
Metal ink could ease the way toward flexible electronic books, displays
Scientists are reporting the development of a novel metal ink made of small sheets of copper that can be used to write a functioning, flexible electric circuit on regular printer paper. ...
Green space can make people happier for years
2014-01-08
Green space can make people happier for years
Nearly 10 years after the term "nature deficit disorder" entered the nation's vocabulary, research is showing for the first time that green space does appear to improve mental health in a sustained way. The report, ...
Top chemical advances and more from the year 2013
2014-01-08
Top chemical advances and more from the year 2013
From stretchy electronics to Martian chemistry, the most notable advances in the chemical world in 2013 appear in the year-in-review issue of Chemical & Engineering News (C&EN), the weekly newsmagazine of the ...
AML score that combines genetic and epigenetic changes might help guide therapy
2014-01-08
AML score that combines genetic and epigenetic changes might help guide therapy
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Currently, doctors use chromosome markers and gene mutations to determine the best treatment for patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). ...
Cosmetic outcomes after breast-conserving therapy may vary by race
2014-01-08
Cosmetic outcomes after breast-conserving therapy may vary by race
Subjective ratings appear lower in African-American patients, reports PRS Global Open
Philadelphia, Pa. (January 7, 2013) – As perceived by both patients and doctors, the cosmetic results ...
Stopping tumors in their path
2014-01-08
Stopping tumors in their path
New study sheds light on most common and deadly form of brain cancer
Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common and deadly form of primary malignant brain cancer accounting for approximately 15% of all brain tumours and occurring mostly in adults between ...
Study shows women continue to outlive men as numbers of centenarians on the rise
2014-01-08
Study shows women continue to outlive men as numbers of centenarians on the rise
TORONTO, January 8, 2014 – The number of centenarians in Ontario increased by more than 70 per cent over the last 15 years with women making up more than 85 per cent ...
Researchers at Case Comprehensive Cancer Center discover ovarian cancer biomarker
2014-01-08
Researchers at Case Comprehensive Cancer Center discover ovarian cancer biomarker
MicroRNA predicts treatment response
Researchers at Case Western Reserve University have identified a microRNA biomarker that shows promise in predicting treatment ...
LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:
Thirty-year mystery of dissonance in the “ringing” of black holes explained
Less intensive works best for agricultural soil
Arctic rivers project receives “national champion” designation from frontiers foundation
Computational biology paves the way for new ALS tests
Study offers new hope for babies born with opioid withdrawal syndrome
UT, Volkswagen Group of America celebrate research partnership
New Medicare program could dramatically improve affordability for cancer drugs – if patients enroll
Are ‘zombie’ skin cells harmful or helpful? The answer may be in their shapes
University of Cincinnati Cancer Center presents research at AACR 2025
Head and neck, breast, lung and survivorship studies headline Dana-Farber research at AACR Annual Meeting 2025
AACR: Researchers share promising results from MD Anderson clinical trials
New research explains why our waistlines expand in middle age
Advancements in muon detection: Taishan Antineutrino Observatory's innovative top veto tracker
Chips off the old block
Microvascular decompression combined with nerve combing for atypical trigeminal neuralgia
Cutting the complexity from digital carpentry
Lung immune cell type “quietly” controls inflammation in COVID-19
Fiscal impact of expanded Medicare coverage for GLP-1 receptor agonists to treat obesity
State and sociodemographic trends in US cigarette smoking with future projections
Young adults drive historic decline in smoking
NFCR congratulates Dr. Robert C. Bast, Jr. on receiving the AACR-Daniel D. Von Hoff Award for Outstanding Contributions to Education and Training in Cancer Research
Chimpanzee stem cells offer new insights into early embryonic development
This injected protein-like polymer helps tissues heal after a heart attack
FlexTech inaugural issue launches, pioneering interdisciplinary innovation in flexible technology
In Down syndrome mice, 40Hz light and sound improve cognition, neurogenesis, connectivity
Methyl eugenol: potential to inhibit oxidative stress, address related diseases, and its toxicological effects
A vascularized multilayer chip reveals shear stress-induced angiogenesis in diverse fluid conditions
AI helps unravel a cause of Alzheimer's disease and identify a therapeutic candidate
Coalition of Autism Scientists critiques US Department of Health and Human Services Autism Research Initiative
Structure dictates effectiveness, safety in nanomedicine
[Press-News.org] Geography has impact on grapevine moth's success in French vineyardsStudy sheds light on how regional differences, local temperatures influence immune function of pests