Consuelo De Moraes Ph.D.

Current Graduate Students:

• Beth Irwin
  
• Kerry Mauck
  
• Lori Shapiro
  
• Jordan Smith
• Jason Smith
  

Current Post-Doctoral Associates:

• Fernanda Penaflor
• Nina Stanczyk
• Ryoko Ichiki
  
• Lucie Salvaudon
  
• Jun Tabata
  

Links:

De Moraes Lab
Center for Chemical Ecology

Department Focus Areas:

Chemical Ecology

Research Interests:

Tritrophic interactions, biological control, plant signaling, plant insect interactions, plant defenses

Research Activities & Interests:

My research focuses on chemically mediated ecological interactions among plants, herbivores, and parasitoids. I am primarily interested in illuminating the critical role of chemical communication in ecological interactions across trophic levels. Among the most significant features of tritrophic systems are defensive responses of plants to insect feeding, including the production and release of volatile compounds that mediate chemical communication among plants and between plants and the natural enemies of insect herbivores. My research efforts are aimed at understanding the ecological dynamics of plant signaling and ultimately at unraveling the influences of chemically mediated communication on community structure and dynamics.

Relevant Publications:

2013

Helms, AM, CM De Moraes, JF Tooker & MC Mescher. 2013.Exposure of Solidago altissima plants to volatile emissions of an insect antagonist (Eurosta solidaginis) deters subsequent herbivory. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 110: 199-204

Kariyat RR, Mauck KE, Balogh CM, Stephenson AG, Mescher MC, & De Moraes CM. 2013. Inbreeding in horsenettle (Solanum carolinense) alters night-time volatile emissions that guide oviposition by Manduca sexta moths. Proceedings of the Royal Society B 20130020.

Salvaudon L, De Moraes CM & Mescher MC. 2013.  Outcomes of co-infection by two potyviruses: implications for the evolution of manipulative strategies. Proceedings of the Royal Society B B 20122959. (link)

Kariyat, RR, Balogh, CM, Moraski, RP, De Moraes, CM, Mescher, MC, & Stephenson, AG.  2013. Constitutive and herbivore-induced structural defenses are compromised by inbreeding in Solanum carolinense L. American Journal of Botany, (In Press May Issue)

Salvaudon, L, CM De Moraes, JY Yang, NH Chua & MC Mescher.2013 Effects of the virus satellite gene βC1 on host plant defense signaling and volatile emission. Plant Signaling & Behavior 8 (3), e23317

2012

Shapiro LR, CM De Moraes, AG Stephenson & MC Mescher. 2012. Pathogen effects on vegetative and floral odors mediate vector attraction and host exposure in a complex pathosystem. Ecology Letters,  15:1430–1438.

Kariyat R.R., K.E. Mauck,  C.M. De Moraes, A.G. Stephenson and M.C. Mescher.  2012. Inbreeding alters volatile signalling phenotypes and influences tri-trophic interactions in horsenettle. Ecology Letters:  15: 301–309.

Mauck, K.E., N.A. Bosque-Pérez, S.D. Eigenbrode, C.M. De Moraes, and M.C. Mescher. 2012. Transmission mechanisms shape pathogen effects on host-vector interactions: evidence from plant viruses . Functional Ecology. 26:1162-1175.

Frost, C.J., J.M. Dean, E. Smyers, M.C. Mescher,  J.E. Carlson,  C.M. De Moraes and J.F. Tooker.  2012. A petiole-galling insect herbivore decelerates leaf lamina litter decomposition rates. Functional Ecology. 26: 628-636.

Kim J., J.F Tooker., D.S. Luthe , C.M. De Moraes, G.W. Felton. 2012.  Insect Eggs Can Enhance Wound Response in Plants: A Study System of Tomato Solanum lycopersicum L. and Helicoverpa zea Boddie. PLoS ONE 7(5): e37420. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0037420

Kariyat R. R.,  S. Scanlon,  J. Mena-Ali, B. Folly, M.C. Mescher, C.M. De Moraes and  A.G. Stephenson.  2012. Inbreeding, herbivory and the transcriptome of Solanum carolinense Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata 144: 134-144.

Kariyat R.R.,  C.M. De Moraes, A.G. Stephenson and M.C. Mescher.  2012. Inbreeding increases susceptibility to powdery mildew (Oidium neolycopersici) infestation in horsenettle (Solanum carolinense L). Plant Signaling and Behavior:  7:803-806.

2011

Tabata J, C. M. De Moraes, and M. C. Mescher, 2011 Olfactory Cues from Plants Infected by Powdery Mildew Guide Foraging by a Mycophagous Ladybird Beetle. PLoS ONE 6(8): e23799. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0023799

Tooker, J. F. and C. M. De Moraes. 2011. Feeding by Hessian fly (Mayetiola destructor [Say]) larvae increases levels of fatty acids and indole-3-acetic acid, but not hormones involved in plant-defense signaling. Journal of Plant Growth Regulation 30: 158-165.

Tooker, J. F. and C. M. De Moraes. 2011. Feeding by a gall-inducing caterpillar species increases levels of indole-3-acetic and decreases abscisic acid in Solidago altissima stems. Arthropod-Plant Interactions 5: 115-124.

2010

Mauck, K.E., De Moraes, C.M. and M.C. Mescher. 2010. Deceptive chemical signals induced by a plant virus attract insect vectors to inferior hosts. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 107(8):3600-3605. (This Paper has been designated a Faculty of 1000 “Must Read” Factor 6.0)

Runyon, J.B., M.C. Mescher, and C.M. De Moraes. 2010. Parasitism by Cuscuta pentagona sequentially induces JA and SA pathways in tomato. Plant, Cell and  Environment 33: 290-303.

Runyon, J.B., M.C. Mescher, and C.M. De Moraes. 2010.  Plant defenses against parasitic plants show similarities to those induced by herbivores and pathogens. Plant Signaling & Behavior 8(5):929-931

Tooker, J. F. and C. M. De Moraes. 2010. Feeding by first-instar Hessian fly (Mayetiola destructor [Say]) larvae increases levels of fatty acids and indole-3-acetic acid, but not hormones typically involved in defense signaling. Journal of Plant Growth Regulation - In Press.

Mauck K.E., De Moraes C.M., M.C. Mescher. 2010. Effects of Cucumber mosaic virus infection on vector and non-vector herbivores of squash. Communicative and Integrative Biology: In Press.

2009

Dean, J.M., M.C. Mescher, and C.M. De Moraes. 2009. Plant-rhizobia mutualism influences aphid abundance on soybean. Plant and Soil Sciences  323:187-196

Tooker, J.F. and C.M. De Moraes. 2009. A gall-inducing caterpillar species increases essential fatty acid content of its host plant without concomitant increases in phytohormone levels. Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions 22:551–559.

Mescher, M.C., and C.M. De Moraes. 2009. Olfaction: Chemical Signposts along the Silk Road. Current Biology 19(12):R491-493.

Verheggen, F.J., E. Haubruge, C.M. De Moraes and M.C. Mescher. 2009. Production of alarm pheromone by aphids varies in response to their social environment. Behavioral Ecology 20(2):283–288.

Delphia, C.M., C.M. De Moraes, A.J. Stephenson, and M.C. Mescher. 2009. Inbreeding in horsenettle influences herbivore resistance. Ecological Entomology 34(4):513–519.

Delphia, C.M., J.R. Rohr, A.G. Stephenson, C.M. De Moraes, and M. C. Mescher. 2009. Effects of genetic variation and inbreeding on volatile production in a field population of horsenettle. International Journal of Plant Sciences 70(1):12–20.

Smith, J.L., C.M. De Moraes and M.C. Mescher. 2009. Plant hormone-mediated plant defense responses to parasitic plants and other antagonists. Pest Management Science 65(5):497-503. (This paper was recognized by Wiley Interscience for being the most downloaded paper appearing in PMS in 2009.)

Mescher, M.C., J. Smith, and C.M. De Moraes. 2009. Host location and selection by holoparasitic plants. In: Plant–Environment Interactions. František Baluška (ed). Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg, New York.

Runyon, J.B., J.F. Tooker, M.C. Mescher, and C.M. De Moraes. 2009. Parasitic plants in agriculture: chemical ecology of germination and host-plant location as targets for sustainable control. Advances for Sustainable Agriculture.

2008

Frost, C.J., M.C. Mescher, C. Dervinis, J.M. Davis, J.E. Carlson, and C.M. De Moraes. 2008. Priming defense genes and metabolites in hybrid poplar by the green leaf volatile cis-3-hexenyl acetate. New Phytologist 180: 722-734

Runyon, J.B., M.C. Mescher, and C.M. De Moraes. 2008. Parasitism by Cuscuta pentagona attenuates host plant defense of insect herbivores. Plant Physiology 146:987-995.

Frost, C.J., M.C. Mescher, J.E. Carlson, and C.M. De Moraes. 2008. Plant defense priming against herbivores: getting ready for a different battle. Plant Physiology 146:818-824.

Tooker, J.F., J.R. Rohr, W.G. Abrahamson, and C.M. De Moraes. 2008. Gall insects can evade and alter indirect plant defenses. New Phytologist 178:657-672.

Verheggen, F.J., M.C. Mescher, E. Haubruge, C.M. De Moraes and E.G. Schwartzberg. 2008. Emission of Alarm Pheromone in Aphids: a Non-Contagious Phenomenon. Chemical Ecology 34:1146-1148.

Tooker, J.F. and C.M. De Moraes. 2008. Gall Insects and Indirect Plant Defenses: A Case of Active Manipulation? Plant Signaling & Behavior 3(7):503-504.

Frost, C.J., M.C. Mescher, J.E. Carlson, and C.M. De Moraes. 2008. Why do distance limitations exist on plant-plant signaling via airborne volatiles? Plant Signaling & Behavior 3(7):466-468

Verheggen, F.J., M.C. Mescher, E. Haubruge, C.M. De Moraes and E.G. Schwartzberg. 2008. Emission of Alarm Pheromone in Aphids: a Non-Contagious Phenomenon. Chemical Ecology 34:1146-1148.

2007

Frost, C.J., M. Appel,  J.E. Carlson,  C.M. De Moraes, M.C. Mescher, and J.C. Schultz. 2007. Within-plant signaling via volatiles overcomes vascular constraints on systemic signaling and primes responses against herbivores. Ecology Letters 10:490-498.

Magbanua, Z.V., C.M. De Moraes, T.D Brooks, W.P. Williams, and D.S. Luthe. 2007. Is catalase activity one of the factors associated with maize resistance to Aspergillus flavus? Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions 20:697-706.

Delphia, C.M., M.C. Mescher, and C.M. De Moraes. 2007. Induction of plant volatiles by herbivores with different feeding habits and the effects of induced defenses on host-plant selection by thrips. Journal of Chemical Ecology 33:997-1012.

Tooker, J.F. and C.M. De Moraes. 2007. Feeding by Hessian fly Mayetiola destructor (Say) larvae does not induce plant indirect defences. Ecological Entomology 32:153-161.

Tooker, J.F. and C.M. De Moraes. 2007. Jasmonate, salicylate, and benzoate in insect eggs. Journal of Chemical Ecology 33:331-343.

2006

Runyon, J. B., M. C. Mescher, and C. M. De Moraes. 2006. Volatile chemical cues guide host location and selection by parasitic plants. Science, 313: 1964-1967. (This Paper has been designated a Faculty of 1000 “Must Read” Factor 6.5)

Ferrari, M.J., A.G.Stephenson, M.C. Mescher, and C. M. De Moraes. 2006.  Inbreeding effects on blossom volatiles in Curcubita pepo ssp. Texana. American Journal of Botany 93:1768-1774.

Dean, J.M. and C.M. De Moraes. 2006.  Effects of genetic modification on herbivore-induced volatiles from maize. Journal of Chemical Ecology 32: 713-724.

Delphia, C.M., M.C. Mescher, G.W. Felton and C.M. De Moraes. 2006.  The role of insect-derived cues in eliciting indirect plant defenses in tobacco, Nicotiana tabacum. Plant Signaling & Behavior 1:243-250.

Tooker, J.F. and C.M. De Moraes. 2006.  Gall midge larvae evade indirect defenses. Ecological Entomology 32: 153-161

Mescher, M.C.,  J.B. Runyon, and C.M. De Moraes. 2006. Host finding by parasitic plants: a new perspective on plant to plant communication. Plant Signaling & Behavior 1(6):284-286.

Tooker, J.F. and C.M. De Moraes. 2006. Jasmonate in lepidopteran larvae. Journal of Chemical Ecology 32: 2321-2326.

De Moraes, C.M. and M.C. Mescher. 2006. Chemical communication across tritrophic systems. Journal of the American Chemical Society 231.

Dean, J.M. and C.M. De Moraes. 2006. Effects of genetic modification on herbivore-induced volatiles from maize. Journal of Chemical Ecology 32:713-724.

2000 - 2005

Tooker, J.F. and C.M. De Moraes. 2005. Jasmonate in Lepidoptera eggs and neonates. Journal of Chemical Ecology 31:2753-2759.

De Moraes, C.M. and M.C. Mescher. 2005. Intrinsic competition between larval parasitoids with different degrees of host specificity. Ecological Entomology 30: 1-7.

De Moraes, C.M., J.C. Schultz, M.C. Mescher and J.H. Tumlinson. 2004. Plant signaling and its implications in sensor technology. Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health Part A 67:819-834.

De Moraes, C.M. and M.C. Mescher. 2004. Biochemical crypsis in the avoidance of natural enemies by an insect herbivore. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 101: 8993-8997.

De Moraes, C. M., M. C. Mescher and J. H. Tumlinson. 2001. Caterpillar-induced nocturnal plantvolatiles repel conspecific females. Nature 410:577-580.

De Moraes, C.M., W.J. Lewis and J.H. Tumlinson. 2000. Examining plant-parasitoid interactions in tritrophic systems. Anais da Sociedade Entomológica do Brasil 29:189-203.

1997 - 1999

De Moraes, C.M., A.M. Cortesero, and W.J. Lewis. 1999. Intrinsic and extrinsic competitive interactions between two larval parasitoids of Heliothis virescens.  Ecological Entomology 24:1-9.

De Moraes, C.M and W.J. Lewis. 1999. Analyses of two parasitoids with convergent foraging strategies. Journal of Insect Behavior 12:571-583.

Suarez, A.V., C.M. De Moraes, and A. Ippolito. 1998.  Defense of Acacia collinsii by obligate and non-obligate ant species: the significance of encroaching vegetation. Biotropica 30(3): 480-482.

De Moraes, C.M. and M.C. Mescher. 1998.  Plant-parasitoid interactions in tritrophic systems: a review of recent work with implications for biological control. Journal of Entomological Sciences 34:31-39.

De Moraes, C. M., W. J. Lewis, P. W. Paré and J. H. Tumlinson. 1998. Herbivore infested plants selectively attract parasitoids. Nature. 393:570-574.

Cortesero, A.M., C.M. De Moraes, J.O. Stapel, J.H. Tumlinson, and W.J. Lewis. 1997. Comparisons and contrasts in host-foraging strategies of two larval parasitoids with different degrees of host specificity. Journal of Chemical Ecology 23: 1589-1606.

Stapel, J.O., A.M. Cortesero, C.M. De Moraes, J.H. Tumlinson, and W.J. Lewis. 1997. Extrafloral nectar, honeydew, and sucrose effects on searching behavior and efficiency of Microplitis croceipes (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) in cotton. Environmental Entomology 26: 617-623.

Honors and Awards:

• The International Society of Chemical Ecology Silverstein-Simeone Lecture Award (Recognizes outstanding recent or current work at the frontiers of chemical ecology) (2012)
  
• Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAs) (2011)
  
• NIH PIONEER award Finalist (2011)
  
• The Bobby C. Pass Speaker Award  “for inspiring Scientific creativity of Graduate Students”, University of Kentucky (2011)
  
• The spirit of Internationalization award,  Penn State University (2011)
  
• Distinguished Speaker, W. M. Keck Center for Behavioral Biology at NCSU (2011)
• Invited lecturer at the American Philosophical Society (2010)
  
• Early Career Innovation award, Entomological Society of America (Sponsored by BASF) (2008)
• Perry Adkisson Distinguished Speaker Award, Texas A&M University (2008)
• National Science Foundation CAREER Award (2007-12)
• Sawicki Lecture honored speaker, Rothamstead Research, England
• Community of Teaching Excellence Award, Pennsylvania State University (2007)
• DuPont Young Professor Award (2006-09)
• Emerald Awards (2005)
• Beckman Institute Fellow, Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation (2003)
• USDA Certificate of Merit for outstanding performance for the USDA-ARS-CMAVE (2003)
• Beckman Foundation Young Investigator Award (2003)
• David and Lucile Packard Foundation Fellowship for Science and Engineering (2002)
• USDA Certificate of Merit for outstanding performance for the USDA-ARS-IBPMRL (1999)
• Outstanding Ph.D. student award, Dept. of Entomology, University of Georgia (1998)
• President’s Prize Student Competition Award, Entomological Society of America National meeting: First Place Section CD (1998)
• U. E. Brady Award for Best Poster, Georgia Entomological Society annual meeting (1998)
• President’s Prize Student Competition Award, Entomological Society of America (1997)
• MENSA Essay Competition: First Place (1997)
• E. Broadus Browne Outstanding Ph.D. Student Award (best Ph.D. student in the College of Agriculture), University of Georgia (1996)
• U.E. Brady Award for best poster, Georgia Entomological Society annual meeting (1996)
• H.O. Lund Poster Competition: First Place, University of Georgia (1996)
• MENSA Essay Competition: First Place (1995)
• International fellowship, American Association of University Women (1993-94)
• Ranked second among all students taking the general admission exam in Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Brazil (1988)

Public Impact (press coverage):

• Do Plants Smell Other Plants? This One Does, Then Strangles What it Smells. Robert Krulwich. NPR. May 24, 2012.
  
• Common Scents:Plants Constantly Catch a Whiff of their Neighbors’Perfume.  Daniel Chamovitz.  Scientific American. May, 2012
  
• Documentary “Plant behavior and communication” The Nature of Things with David Suzuki, CBC TV 2012.
  
• Documentary “Invisible Nature” by Monalisa Productions. 2012.
  
• Documentary “Intelligent Plants” by Matthew Productions, German/French public TV. (winner of the silver world medal at the 2011 Best television & films New York festival, NYC) 2011.
  
• A quick sniff and she’s off. Caroline Ash Science: Editors Choice. February 29, 2010.
  
• Aphid deception. Nature: Research Highlights. February 10, 2010.
  
• Plant virus tricks teach evolutionary pest management. Brandon Keim  Wired Science. February 2, 2010.
  
• The grass isn’t always greener.  Dr. Jim Caryl.  Mental Indigestion. April 7, 2010.
  
• Virus pulls bait and switch on insect vectors. Andrea Messer.  Penn State Live: Newswire. February 1, 2010.
  
• Virus makes plants lie to insects. Susan Milius. ScienceNews. January 16, 2010. 
  
• Sorry Vegans: Brussels Sprouts like to live, too. Natalie Angier.  New York Times. December 22, 2009.
  
• No brainer behavior. Susan Milius  Science News. June 20, 2009.
  
• Bacteria protect soybean from Aphids. Science Daily . April, 2009.
  
• Loyal to its roots. Carol Kaesuk Yoon New York Times. June 3, 2008.
  
• This plant has the sense of smell (loves tomatoes, hates wheat). Henry Fountain New York Times. Oct. 3, 2006.
  
• Science Notebook. David Brown, Washington Post. Oct. 2, 2006.
  
• Prey's perfume. Sarah Everts, Chemical and Engineering News. Oct.2, 2006.
  
• Scent stalking: parasitic vine grows toward tomato odor. Science News. Sept. 30, 2006.
  
• Science in Action, BBC World Service Radio Interview. Sept. 29, 2006.
  
• Parasitic weed uses chemical cues to find host plant. Science. Sept. 29, 2006.
• Parasitic weed sniffs out prey, study says. Sean Markey, National Geographic News. Sept. 29, 2006.
  
• Parasitic weed seems to smell its prey. ABC News.com. Sept. 29, 2006.
  
• Leading Edge, BBC Radio 4 Interview. Sept 28, 2006.
  
• All Things Considered, NPR Radio Interview. Sept 28, 2006.
  
• Weed with a nose. Alan Boyle, NBC Video. Sept. 28, 2006.
  
• Picky Eater (Amanda Yarnell). Chemical and Engineering News. June, 2004.
  
• Unusual diet helps caterpillars. Washington times. June, 2004.
  
• Choice of food helps hungry caterpillars. Innovations report. June, 2004.
  
• Finicky caterpillars. (wire reports). Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. June, 2004.
  
• Choice of food helps caterpillars (Andrea Messer). PennState news. June, 2004.
  
• Talking Trees. (C. Berger). Odyssey Adventures in science. March, 2003.
• Talking plants. (S. Russell). Discover Magazine, 47-51. April, 2002.
  
• Stay Away from Tobacco (Heather Van Daren). Natural History. October, 2001.
  
• Making crops cry for help (John Whitfield). Nature. Vol 410:736-737.
  
• A shield of Green (Virginia Gewin), The Oregonian. Aug 15, 2001.
  
• Feeding off nighttime attacks. Washington Post. April 15, 2001.
  
• Plant signal friends, foes with scents that change as day turns to night. Chemical and Engineering News. April 2, 2001.
  
• Les subtiles leçons de lutte biologique des végétaux contre les prédateurs. Le Monde. France. April 6, 2001.
  
• La plante qui appelle au secours. La Science. April 3, 2001
  
• Nocturnal emissions repel moths. Nature (science update). March 29, 2001.
  
• Leaf me Alone (John Whitfield). Nature (science update). March 29, 2001.
  
• Plants thwart pests by sending out chemical distress signals (Elliott Minor). January 28, 1999.
  
• Um perfume para cada inimigo. Super Interessante, 123:14-15. March, 1998.
  
• BBC and NPR report on De Moraes et al., 1998: "Herbivore infested plants selectively attract parasitoids".
  
• Plant-Insect communication. The IPM Practitioner, vol XX, (5/6). May /June, 1998.
  
• It's chemistry : pestered plants cry for help to bring "good bugs" to their aid. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, A8. June 13, 1998.
  
• Les plantes s'auto-defendant. (Julie Lasterade), Siberation. June 23, 1998.
  
• Le radar chimique des quepes. (Yves Miserey), Libertade. June 23, 1998.
  
• Plants send SOS when caterpillars bite. (Jan Suszkiw), Agricultural Research. October, 1998.
  
• Plants and Wasps nip bad bugs in the bud. (Laura Wexler), Georgia Magazine, vol 77(4):11. 1998.
  
• Quand les plantes passent a la contre-ataque. (Sophie Coisne), Science e Vie Junior, vol 109. October, 1998.
  
• Fine-tuned plant response to insect attack. (C. Milot), Science News, 152: 391. December 1997.