1
|
Thompson MN, Arriaga J, Bradford BJ, Kurian R, Strozier G, Helms AM. Belowground insect herbivory induces systemic volatile emissions that strengthen neighbouring plant resistance aboveground. PLANT, CELL & ENVIRONMENT 2024; 47:714-725. [PMID: 37961782 DOI: 10.1111/pce.14762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2023] [Revised: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
Plants transmit ecologically relevant messages to neighbouring plants through chemical cues. For instance, insect herbivory triggers the production of herbivore-induced plant volatiles (HIPVs), which can enhance neighbouring plant defences. HIPVs are emitted from directly damaged plant tissues and from systemic, nondamaged tissues. Although volatile-mediated interplant interactions have been observed both above- and belowground, it remains unknown whether belowground herbivory induces systemic HIPVs aboveground that influence neighbouring plants. To explore how belowground herbivory affects interplant interactions aboveground, we characterised systemic HIPVs from squash induced by belowground striped cucumber beetle (Acalymma vittatum) larval herbivory. We exposed squash 'receiver plants' to systemic HIPVs or volatiles from nondamaged plants. We then measured herbivore resistance by challenging 'receiver plants' with aboveground-feeding herbivores: adult beetles (A. vittatum) or squash bugs (Anasa tristis). We discovered belowground-damaged plants emitted more (E)-β-ocimene, a key volatile from the systemic HIPV blend, than nondamaged controls, and that exposure to systemic HIPVs enhanced neighbouring plant resistance to aboveground squash bugs, but not adult beetles. Further investigations into the mechanism of interplant interaction revealed β-ocimene alone can elicit plant resistance against squash bugs. Overall, our findings reveal a novel form of volatile-mediated interactions between plants spanning across aboveground-belowground plant systems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Morgan N Thompson
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Jayda Arriaga
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
- Biomedical Sciences Interdisciplinary Program, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - B Jack Bradford
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Rachel Kurian
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Gage Strozier
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
- Department of Horticultural Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Anjel M Helms
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Martín-Cacheda L, Vázquez-González C, Rasmann S, Röder G, Abdala-Roberts L, Moreira X. Volatile-Mediated Signalling Between Potato Plants in Response to Insect Herbivory is not Contingent on Soil Nutrients. J Chem Ecol 2023; 49:507-517. [PMID: 37460650 PMCID: PMC10725352 DOI: 10.1007/s10886-023-01445-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2023] [Revised: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
Plant-plant signalling via volatile organic compounds (VOCs) has been studied intensively, but its contingency on abiotic conditions (e.g., soil nutrients, drought, warming) is poorly understood. To address this gap, we carried out a greenhouse experiment testing whether soil nutrients influenced signalling between potato (Solanum tuberosum) plants in response to insect leaf herbivory by the generalist caterpillar Spodoptera exigua. We placed pairs of plants in plastic cages, where one plant acted as a VOC emitter and the other as a receiver. We factorially manipulated soil nutrients for both emitter and receiver plants, namely: unfertilized (baseline soil nutrients) vs. fertilized (augmented nutrients). Then, to test for signalling effects, half of the emitters within each fertilization level were damaged by S. exigua larvae and the other half remained undamaged. Three days after placing larvae, we collected VOCs from emitter plants to test for herbivory and fertilization effects on VOC emissions and placed S. exigua larvae on receivers to test for signalling effects on leaf consumption and larval mass gain as proxies of induced resistance. We found that herbivory increased total VOC emissions and altered VOC composition by emitter plants, but these effects were not contingent on fertilization. In addition, bioassay results showed that receivers exposed to VOCs from herbivore-damaged emitters had lower levels of herbivory compared to receivers exposed to undamaged emitters. However, and consistent with VOC results, fertilization did not influence herbivore-induced signalling effects on receiver resistance to herbivory. In sum, we found evidence of S. exigua-induced signalling effects on resistance to herbivory in potato plants but such effects were not affected by increased soil nutrients. These results call for further work testing signalling effects under broader range of nutrient concentration levels (including nutrient limitation), teasing apart the effects of specific nutrients, and incorporating other abiotic factors likely to interact or covary with soil nutrients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lucía Martín-Cacheda
- Misión Biológica de Galicia (MBG-CSIC), Apartado de correos 28, Pontevedra, Galicia, 36080, Spain.
| | - Carla Vázquez-González
- Misión Biológica de Galicia (MBG-CSIC), Apartado de correos 28, Pontevedra, Galicia, 36080, Spain
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
| | - Sergio Rasmann
- Institute of Biology, University of Neuchâtel, Rue Emile-Argand 11, Neuchâtel, 2000, Switzerland
| | - Gregory Röder
- Institute of Biology, University of Neuchâtel, Rue Emile-Argand 11, Neuchâtel, 2000, Switzerland
| | - Luis Abdala-Roberts
- Departamento de Ecología Tropical, Campus de Ciencias Biológicas y Agropecuarias, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Apartado Postal 4-116, Itzimná, Mérida, Yucatán, 97000, México
| | - Xoaquín Moreira
- Misión Biológica de Galicia (MBG-CSIC), Apartado de correos 28, Pontevedra, Galicia, 36080, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Ming L, Du YW, Yuan GG, Su Q, Shi XB, Yu H, Chen G. Spodoptera litura larvae are attracted by HvAV-3h-infected S. litura larvae-damaged pepper leaves. PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE 2023. [PMID: 36905637 DOI: 10.1002/ps.7449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Revised: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Herbivore-induced plant volatiles (HIPVs) are important self-defense outputs of pepper plants to resist insect pests. Ascoviruses are pathogenic to the larvae of most lepidopteran vegetable pests. However, whether Heliothis virescens ascovirus 3h (HvAV-3h)-infected Spodoptera litura larvae can change pepper leaf HIPVs is not well understood. RESULTS Spodoptera litura larvae preferred S. litura-infested leaves, and this preference was stronger with longer duration of S. litura infestation. In addition, S. litura larvae significantly chose pepper leaves damaged by HvAV-3h-infected S. litura over the healthy pepper leaves. Results also showed that S. litura larvae preferred leaves mechanically damaged and treated with oral secretions from HvAV-3h infected-S. litura larvae in a simulation test. We captured the volatiles emitted by leaves under six treatments. Results showed that the volatile profile changed with the different treatments. Testing of volatile blends, prepared to the proportion released showed that the blend from simulated HvAV-3h-infected S. litura larvae-damaged plants was the most attractive to S. litura larvae. Further, we also found that some of the compounds significantly attracted S. litura larvae at specific concentrations. CONCLUSION HvAV-3h-infected S. litura can alter the release of HIPVs in pepper plants and thus become more attractive to S. litura larvae. We speculate that this may be due to alterations in the concentration of some compounds (such as geranylacetone and prohydrojasmon) affecting the behavior of S. litura larvae. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lang Ming
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Biology and Control of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China
- College of Plant Protection, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuan-Wen Du
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Biology and Control of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China
- College of Plant Protection, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Ge-Ge Yuan
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Biology and Control of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China
- College of Plant Protection, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Qi Su
- College of Agriculture, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, Hubei, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiao-Bing Shi
- Hunan Plant Protection Institute, Hunan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Huan Yu
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Biology and Control of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China
- College of Plant Protection, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Gong Chen
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Biology and Control of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China
- College of Plant Protection, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Thompson MN, Grunseich JM, Marmolejo LO, Aguirre NM, Bradicich PA, Behmer ST, Suh CPC, Helms AM. Undercover operation: Belowground insect herbivory modifies systemic plant defense and repels aboveground foraging insect herbivores. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.1033730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Plants attacked by insects may induce defenses locally in attacked plant tissues and/or systemically in non-attacked tissues, such as aboveground herbivory affecting belowground roots or belowground herbivory modifying aboveground tissues (i.e., cross-compartment systemic defense). Through induced systemic plant defenses, above-and belowground insect herbivores indirectly interact when feeding on a shared host plant. However, determining the systemic effects of herbivory on cross-compartment plant tissues and cascading consequences for herbivore communities remains underexplored. The goal of this study was to determine how belowground striped cucumber beetle (Acalymma vittatum) larval herbivory alters aboveground zucchini squash (Cucurbita pepo subsp. pepo) defenses and interactions with herbivores, including adult cucumber beetles and squash bugs (Anasa tristis). To explore this question, field and laboratory experiments were conducted to compare responses of aboveground herbivores to belowground larvae-damaged plants and non-damaged control plants. We also characterized changes in defensive chemicals and nutritional content of aboveground plant structures following belowground herbivory. We discovered belowground herbivory enhanced aboveground plant resistance and deterred aboveground foraging herbivores. We also found that larvae-damaged plants emitted higher amounts of a key volatile compound, (E)-β-ocimene, compared to non-damaged controls. Further investigation suggests that other mechanisms, such as plant nutrient content, may additionally contribute to aboveground herbivore foraging decisions. Collectively, our findings underscore connections between above-and belowground herbivore communities as mediated through induced systemic defenses of a shared host plant. Specifically, these findings indicate that belowground larval herbivory systemically enhances plant defenses and deters a suite of aboveground herbivores, suggesting larvae may manipulate aboveground plant defenses for their own benefit, while plants may benefit from enhanced systemic defenses against multi-herbivore attack.
Collapse
|
5
|
Takabayashi J. Herbivory-Induced Plant Volatiles Mediate Multitrophic Relationships in Ecosystems. PLANT & CELL PHYSIOLOGY 2022; 63:1344-1355. [PMID: 35866611 DOI: 10.1093/pcp/pcac107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2022] [Revised: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 07/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Herbivory-induced plant volatiles (HIPVs) are involved in biotic interactions among plants as well as herbivorous and carnivorous arthropods. This review looks at the specificity in plant-carnivore communication mediated by specific blends of HIPVs as well as describes plant-herbivore and plant-plant communication mediated by specific HIPVs. Factors affecting the net benefits of HIPV production have also been examined. These specific means of communication results in high complexity in the 'interaction-information network', which should be explored further to elucidate the mechanism underlying the numerous species coexisting in ecosystems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Junji Takabayashi
- Center for Ecological Research, Kyoto University, 2-509-3, Hirano, Otsu, Shiga, 520-2113 Japan
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Improving Natural Enemy Selection in Biological Control through Greater Attention to Chemical Ecology and Host-Associated Differentiation of Target Arthropod Pests. INSECTS 2022; 13:insects13020160. [PMID: 35206733 PMCID: PMC8877252 DOI: 10.3390/insects13020160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Revised: 01/28/2022] [Accepted: 01/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Host-associated differentiation (HAD) refers to cases in which genetically distinct populations of a species (e.g., herbivores or natural enemies) preferentially reproduce or feed on different host species. In agroecosystems, HAD often results in unique strains or biotypes of pest species, each attacking different species of crops. However, HAD is not restricted to pest populations, and may cascade to the third trophic level, affecting host selection by natural enemies, and ultimately leading to HAD within natural enemy species. Natural enemy HAD may affect the outcomes of biological control efforts, whether classical, conservation, or augmentative. Here, we explore the potential effects of pest and natural enemy HAD on biological control in agroecosystems, with emphases on current knowledge gaps and implications of HAD for selection of biological control agents. Additionally, given the importance of semiochemicals in mediating interactions between trophic levels, we emphasize the role of chemical ecology in interactions between pests and natural enemies, and suggest areas of consideration for biological control. Overall, we aim to jump-start a conversation concerning the relevance of HAD in biological control by reviewing currently available information on natural enemy HAD, identifying challenges to incorporating HAD considerations into biological control efforts, and proposing future research directions on natural enemy selection and HAD.
Collapse
|
7
|
Rivera-Vega LJ, Grunseich JM, Aguirre NM, Valencia CU, Sword GA, Helms AM. A Beneficial Plant-Associated Fungus Shifts the Balance toward Plant Growth over Resistance, Increasing Cucumber Tolerance to Root Herbivory. PLANTS 2022; 11:plants11030282. [PMID: 35161264 PMCID: PMC8838125 DOI: 10.3390/plants11030282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Revised: 12/28/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Plants allocate their limited resources toward different physiological processes, dynamically adjusting their resource allocation in response to environmental changes. How beneficial plant-associated microbes influence this allocation is a topic that continues to interest plant biologists. In this study, we examined the effect of a beneficial fungus, Phialemonium inflatum, on investment in growth and anti-herbivore resistance traits in cucumber plants (Cucumis sativus). We inoculated cucumber seeds with P. inflatum spores and measured several growth parameters, including germination rate, above and belowground biomass, and number of flowers. We also examined plant resistance to adult and larval striped cucumber beetles (Acalymma vitattum), and quantified levels of defense hormones in leaves and roots. Our results indicate that P. inflatum strongly enhances cucumber plant growth and reproductive potential. Although fungus treatment did not improve plant resistance to cucumber beetles, inoculated plants were more tolerant to root herbivory, experiencing less biomass reduction. Together, these findings document how a beneficial plant-associated fungus shifts plant investment in growth over herbivore resistance, highlighting the importance of microbes in mediating plant-herbivore interactions. These findings also have important implications for agricultural systems, where beneficial microbes are often introduced or managed to promote plant growth or enhance resistance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Loren J. Rivera-Vega
- Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24060, USA;
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA; (J.M.G.); (C.U.V.); (G.A.S.)
| | - John M. Grunseich
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA; (J.M.G.); (C.U.V.); (G.A.S.)
| | - Natalie M. Aguirre
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Program, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA;
| | - Cesar U. Valencia
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA; (J.M.G.); (C.U.V.); (G.A.S.)
| | - Gregory A. Sword
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA; (J.M.G.); (C.U.V.); (G.A.S.)
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Program, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA;
| | - Anjel M. Helms
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA; (J.M.G.); (C.U.V.); (G.A.S.)
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Program, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA;
- Correspondence:
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Schulz S, Millar JG, Felton GW. Special Issues in Honor of Professor Dr. Dr. hc mult. Wittko Francke, 28 November 1940 - 27 December 2020. J Chem Ecol 2021; 47:927-929. [PMID: 34792682 DOI: 10.1007/s10886-021-01335-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Schulz
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, Technische Universitat Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Jocelyn G Millar
- Departments of Entomology and Chemistry, University of California, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA
| | - Gary W Felton
- Department of Entomology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA.
| |
Collapse
|