[_pp_func:publrecentheader]
Research interests
"Detoxification mechanisms in a host-specialist, Helicoverpa assulta"
One of the most fascinating aspects of insect-plant interactions is the high
degree of host plant specilization among herbivorous insects. Herbivorous
insects have evolved various physiological mechanisms to avoid and overcome the
harmful effects of toxic plant chemicals by such as excretion or enzymatic
degradation. Larvae of the Oriental tobacco budworm, Helicoverpa assulta
(Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), feeds on a few solanaceous plants including hot pepper
and tobacco, which contain capsaicin and nicotine, respectively. The purpose of
my PhD study is to determine the toxicity of capsaicin and nicotine on the
development of H. assulta and other congeneric moths, and to investigate
how the specialist has evolved to cope with plant noxious compounds in the
context of insect-plant interactions. In order to tackle these questions, I am
taking biochemical and genetic approaches.
Education
Since 2006 PhD student at the Max-Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Jena,
Germany
1998 - 2000 M.S. Entomology, Seoul National University, Korea
1994 - 1998 B.S. Agricultural Biology, Seoul National University, Korea
Publications
Ahn, S.J., M.Y. Choi and K.S. Boo. 2002. Mating effect on sex pheromone
production of the Oriental tobacco budworm, Helicoverpa assulta. J. Asia-Pacific
Entomol. 5: 43-48.
[_pp_func:publrecentlines]
|