USDA-ARS Genetic Improvement for Fruits and Vegetables Lab 1 article published in JoVE Environment Detached Leaf Assays to Simplify Gene Expression Studies in Potato During Infestation by Chewing Insect Manduca sexta Nicole G. Novak1, Frances G. Perez2, Richard W. Jones2, Susan D. Lawrence1 1Invasive Insect Biocontrol and Behavior Lab, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), 2Genetic Improvement for Fruits and Vegetables Lab, USDA-ARS The presented method creates natural herbivore damaged plant tissue through the application of Manduca sexta larvae to detached leaves of potato. The plant tissue is assayed for expression of six transcription factor homologs involved in early responses to insect herbivory.
