White pine weevil (Pissodes strobi) biological performance is unaffected by the jasmonic acid or wound-induced defense response in Norway spruce (Picea abies).

In eastern Canada, the white pine weevil (Pissodes strobi Peck) is a pest of several native pine and spruce species and of the introduced species, Norway spruce (Picea abies Karst). We evaluated the feeding activities, oviposition and rate of adult emergence of white pine weevil on field-grown Norway spruce subjected to jasmonic acid or wounding pretreatments. We also monitored the host-plant reaction to white pine weevil attack, jasmonic acid and wounding treatments by quantifying several mono- and sesquiterpenes in bark and characterizing some molecular aspects of the terpenoid response. Two cDNA sequences were identified that had a high percentage of identity with genes encoding monoterpene or sesquiterpene synthases. Both putative terpene synthase genes showed distinctive profiles in Norway spruce bark and needles following all treatments. Although the Norway spruce trees showed different physiological responses to mechanical wounding and white pine weevil attack, transcript activity of the gene encoding terpenoid synthase and consequent accumulation of terpenoid resin did not significantly affect the weevils' feeding activities, oviposition or rate of adult emergence.