Simultaneous application of MeJA
and ethylene mimics the effect of M. sexta herbivory on the
accumulation of NaPMT1 and NaPMT2 mRNA in roots and nicotine in shoots
of N. attenuata plants. A, Individual hydroponically grown
plants (n = 1) received the following leaf wounding
treatments without (left, control) and with (right) 1-MCP pretreatment:
leaf wounding (wound); leaf wounding plus M. sexta R (wound
+ R-treatment); M. sexta larval feeding for 40 to 80 min
(M. sexta folivory). Harvests, leaf nicotine determinations,
and NaPMT1- and NaPMT2-specific RNA blotting were performed as in
Figure 5. A depicts one set of results from three replicate
experiments. B, NaPMT1 mRNA (top, quantified by slot blot and phosphor
imager) and nicotine (bottom) levels from plants treated as in A, are
presented as percent of the initial (T = 0) level. B depicts the
average values (±se) from three replicate experiments
(n = 3).