College of Agriculture

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As the foundation of the land grant mission at Montana State University, the College of Agriculture and the Montana Agricultural Experiment Station provide instruction in traditional and innovative degree programs and conduct research on old and new challenges for Montana’s agricultural community. This integration creates opportunities for students and faculty to excel through hands-on learning, to serve through campus and community engagement, to explore unique solutions to distinct and interesting questions and to connect Montanans with the global community through research discoveries and outreach.

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Author: search.filters.author.Weaver, David K.search.filters.applied.f.department: search.filters.department.Chemistry & Biochemistry.

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    A large-scale multiomics analysis of wheat stem solidness and the wheat stem sawfly feeding response, and syntenic associations in barley, Brachypodium, and rice
    (2018-02) Biyiklioglu, Sezgi; Alptekin, Burcu; Akpinar, B. Ani; Varella, Andrea C.; Hofland, Megan L.; Weaver, David K.; Bothner, Brian; Budak, Hikmet
    The wheat stem sawfly (WSS), Cephus cinctus Norton (Hymenoptera: Cephidae), is an important pest of wheat and other cereals, threatening the quality and quantity of grain production. WSS larvae feed and develop inside the stem where they are protected from the external environment; therefore, pest management strategies primarily rely on host plant resistance. A major locus on the long arm of wheat chromosome 3B underlies most of the variation in stem solidness; however, the impact of stem solidness on WSS feeding has not been completely characterized. Here, we used a multiomics approach to examine the response to WSS in both solid- and semi-solid-stemmed wheat varieties. The combined transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic data revealed that two important molecular pathways, phenylpropanoid and phosphate pentose, are involved in plant defense against WSS. We also detected a general downregulation of several key defense transcripts, including those encoding secondary metabolites such as DIMBOA, tricetin, and lignin, which suggested that the WSS larva might interfere with plant defense. We comparatively analyzed the stem solidness genomic region known to be associated with WSS tolerance in wild emmer, durum, and bread wheats, and described syntenic regions in the close relatives barley, Brachypodium, and rice. Additionally, microRNAs identified from the same genomic region revealed potential regulatory pathways associated with the WSS response. We propose a model outlining the molecular responses of the WSS-wheat interactions. These findings provide insight into the link between stem solidness and WSS feeding at the molecular level.
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    Semiochemicals to enhance herbivory by Diorhabda carinulata aggregations in saltcedar (Tamarix spp.) infestations
    (2018-01) Gaffke, Alexander M.; Sing, Sharlene E.; Dudley, Tom L.; Bean, Daniel W.; Russak, Justin A.; Mafra-Nato, Agenor; Grieco, Paul A.; Peterson, Robert K. D.; Weaver, David K.
    BACKGROUND: Semiochemicals for monitoring, attracting or repelling pest and beneficial organisms are increasingly deployed in agricultural and forest systems for pest management activities. However, the use of aggregation pheromones and host plant attractants for the express purpose of increasing the efficacy of classical biological control agents of weeds has not been widely reported. Therefore, we conducted field-based assays to determine if a specialized wax based matrix impregnated with an aggregation pheromone of the northern tamarisk beetle Diorhabda carinulata (Desbrochers) or host plant volatiles could increase the efficacy of D. carinulata. RESULTS: The aggregation pheromone and host plant volatiles were formulated for field application using a wax based matrix. Reported release rates suggest this matrix is a viable formulation for enhancing D. carinulata aggregations under field conditions. Pheromone-treated saltcedar plants (Tamarix spp.) not only had higher densities of adult and larval D. carinulata, but also sustained greater levels of foliar damage than control plants. Increased damage from the focused feeding of D. carinulata caused an increase in foliar dieback and decrease in live canopy volume of semiochemical-treated plants. CONCLUSION: Field deployment of these semiochemical formulations could be useful in directing populations of D. carinulata for increased impact on Tamarix spp.
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