Acylsugars of the wild tomato Lycopersicon pennellii in relation to geographic distribution of the species

Abstract

Acylsugars exuded by glandular trichomes mediate insect resistance of the wild tomato Lycopersicon pennellii. Fifteen accessions of this species and four accessions of L. pennellii var. puberulum were surveyed for variability of acylsugar production. Significant differences in the levels of total acylsugars, the ratios of acylglucoses to acylsucroses and the fatty acid profile of the acylsugars were found among accessions of L. pennellii. Acylsugar characteristics were generally uniform among individuals within accessions, though two accessions showed segregation. Most plants of L. pennellii var. puberulum accessions did not produce detectable levels of acylsugars. Analysis indicated that grouping of the L. pennellii accessions on the basis of acylsugar characteristics corresponded to the geographic distribution of the locations at which the accessions were collected.