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Enhancement of specialized metabolism, regeneration efficiency and biological activity in lavandin (Lavandula x intermedia cv 'Grosso')

University of British Columbia

This study aimed to improve essential oil composition by modifying terpene production in Lavandula x intermedia cv Grosso via mutagenesis to more closely resemble the oil of the commercially valuable essential oil from L. angustifolia or the medicinally active essential oil from L. latifolia. Additionally this study aimed to identify genes that control essential oil production in lavenders, and to determine the effect of essential oil composition on biological activity, specifically insecticidal and insect repellent properties. This study resulted in an improved method for the efficient regeneration of Grosso lavender, and applied this method to generate ten unique mutants. The transcriptomes of some mutants were sequenced, and thirty seven differentially expressed transcripts were identified as being involved in the biosynthesis and production of essential oil terpenes. The transcript expression results were confirmed by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis. The lavender essential oil showing greatest biological activity against an invasive pest, spotted wing drosophila, was identified as Lavandula latifolia cv Medikus and the active constituents were identified through fumigation and spray toxicity assays as the monoterpenes 1,8-cineole and linalool. These oils showed strong fumigation and contact toxicity. In all, this thesis presents the generation, screening and analysis of unique L. x intermedia essential oil mutants, which represent both potential new commercial cultivars and model organisms for the investigation of the regulation and biosynthesis of essential oil terpenes.

Text

2016-01-01

Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International

http://hdl.handle.net/2429/52707

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

University of British Columbia

UBCO

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/