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Li ZX, Wang DX, Shi WX, Weng BY, Zhang Z, Su SH, Sun YF, Tan JF, Xiao S, Xie RH. Nitrogen-mediated volatilisation of defensive metabolites in tomato confers resistance to herbivores. PLANT, CELL & ENVIRONMENT 2024; 47:3227-3240. [PMID: 38738504 DOI: 10.1111/pce.14945] [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: 02/04/2024] [Revised: 03/29/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/14/2024]
Abstract
Plants synthesise a vast array of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which serve as chemical defence and communication agents in their interactions with insect herbivores. Although nitrogen (N) is a critical resource in the production of plant metabolites, its regulatory effects on defensive VOCs remain largely unknown. Here, we investigated the effect of N content in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) on the tobacco cutworm (Spodoptera litura), a notorious agricultural pest, using biochemical and molecular experiments in combination with insect behavioural and performance analyses. We observed that on tomato leaves with different N contents, S. litura showed distinct feeding preference and growth and developmental performance. Particularly, metabolomics profiling revealed that limited N availability conferred resistance upon tomato plants to S. litura is likely associated with the biosynthesis and emission of the volatile metabolite α-humulene as a repellent. Moreover, exogenous application of α-humulene on tomato leaves elicited a significant repellent response against herbivores. Thus, our findings unravel the key factors involved in N-mediated plant defence against insect herbivores and pave the way for innovation of N management to improve the plant defence responses to facilitate pest control strategies within agroecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi-Xing Li
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources, School of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Dan-Xia Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources, School of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Wen-Xuan Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources, School of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Bo-Yang Weng
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources, School of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Zhi Zhang
- General Management Office, Shennong Technology Group Co., Ltd, Jinzhong, China
| | - Shi-Hao Su
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources, School of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yu-Fei Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources, School of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jin-Fang Tan
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources, School of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Shi Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources, School of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Ruo-Han Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources, School of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
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Wang Q, Smid HM, Dicke M, Haverkamp A. The olfactory system of Pieris brassicae caterpillars: from receptors to glomeruli. INSECT SCIENCE 2024; 31:469-488. [PMID: 38105530 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.13304] [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: 06/12/2023] [Revised: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
The olfactory system of adult lepidopterans is among the best described neuronal circuits. However, comparatively little is known about the organization of the olfactory system in the larval stage of these insects. Here, we explore the expression of olfactory receptors and the organization of olfactory sensory neurons in caterpillars of Pieris brassicae, a significant pest species in Europe and a well-studied species for its chemical ecology. To describe the larval olfactory system in this species, we first analyzed the head transcriptome of third-instar larvae (L3) and identified 16 odorant receptors (ORs) including the OR coreceptor (Orco), 13 ionotropic receptors (IRs), and 8 gustatory receptors (GRs). We then quantified the expression of these 16 ORs in different life stages, using qPCR, and found that the majority of ORs had significantly higher expression in the L4 stage than in the L3 and L5 stages, indicating that the larval olfactory system is not static throughout caterpillar development. Using an Orco-specific antibody, we identified all olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs) expressing the Orco protein in L3, L4, and L5 caterpillars and found a total of 34 Orco-positive ORNs, distributed among three sensilla on the antenna. The number of Orco-positive ORNs did not differ among the three larval instars. Finally, we used retrograde axon tracing of the antennal nerve and identified a mean of 15 glomeruli in the larval antennal center (LAC), suggesting that the caterpillar olfactory system follows a similar design as the adult olfactory system, although with a lower numerical redundancy. Taken together, our results provide a detailed analysis of the larval olfactory neurons in P. brassicae, highlighting both the differences as well as the commonalities with the adult olfactory system. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the development of the olfactory system in insects and its life-stage-specific adaptations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Wang
- Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Hans M Smid
- Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Marcel Dicke
- Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Alexander Haverkamp
- Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands
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Liu Y, Zhang S, Cao S, Jacquin-Joly E, Zhou Q, Liu Y, Wang G. An odorant receptor mediates the avoidance of Plutella xylostella against parasitoid. BMC Biol 2024; 22:61. [PMID: 38475722 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-024-01862-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ecosystems are brimming with myriad compounds, including some at very low concentrations that are indispensable for insect survival and reproduction. Screening strategies for identifying active compounds are typically based on bioassay-guided approaches. RESULTS Here, we selected two candidate odorant receptors from a major pest of cruciferous plants-the diamondback moth Plutella xylostella-as targets to screen for active semiochemicals. One of these ORs, PxylOR16, exhibited a specific, sensitive response to heptanal, with both larvae and adult P. xylostella displaying heptanal avoidance behavior. Gene knockout studies based on CRISPR/Cas9 experimentally confirmed that PxylOR16 mediates this avoidance. Intriguingly, rather than being involved in P. xylostella-host plant interaction, we discovered that P. xylostella recognizes heptanal from the cuticular volatiles of the parasitoid wasp Cotesia vestalis, possibly to avoid parasitization. CONCLUSIONS Our study thus showcases how the deorphanization of odorant receptors can drive discoveries about their complex functions in mediating insect survival. We also demonstrate that the use of odorant receptors as a screening platform could be efficient in identifying new behavioral regulators for application in pest management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yipeng Liu
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China
- Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Genome Analysis Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, 518120, China
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Biometrology and Inspection and Quarantine, College of Life Sciences, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, 310018, China
| | - Sai Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Song Cao
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Emmanuelle Jacquin-Joly
- Institute of Ecology and Environmental Sciences of Paris, INRAE, Sorbonne Université, CNRS, UPEC, UniversitéParis Cité, 78026, Versailles, IRD, France
| | - Qiong Zhou
- College of Life Sciences, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, 410006, China
| | - Yang Liu
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China.
| | - Guirong Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China.
- Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Genome Analysis Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, 518120, China.
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Jin S, Qian K, He L, Zhang Z. iORandLigandDB: A Website for Three-Dimensional Structure Prediction of Insect Odorant Receptors and Docking with Odorants. INSECTS 2023; 14:560. [PMID: 37367376 DOI: 10.3390/insects14060560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Revised: 05/28/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
The use of insect-specific odorants to control the behavior of insects has always been a hot spot in research on "green" control strategies of insects. However, it is generally time-consuming and laborious to explore insect-specific odorants with traditional reverse chemical ecology methods. Here, an insect odorant receptor (OR) and ligand database website (iORandLigandDB) was developed for the specific exploration of insect-specific odorants by using deep learning algorithms. The website provides a range of specific odorants before molecular biology experiments as well as the properties of ORs in closely related insects. At present, the existing three-dimensional structures of ORs in insects and the docking data with related odorants can be retrieved from the database and further analyzed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuo Jin
- College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Kun Qian
- College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Lin He
- College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Zan Zhang
- College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
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Sun YL, Jiang PS, Dong BX, Tian CH, Dong JF. Candidate chemosensory receptors in the antennae and maxillae of Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) larvae. Front Physiol 2022; 13:970915. [PMID: 36187799 PMCID: PMC9520170 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.970915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Although most of the damage caused by lepidopteran insects to plants is caused by the larval stage, chemosensory systems have been investigated much more frequently for lepidopteran adults than for larvae. The fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is a polyphagous and worldwide pest. To understand the larval chemosensory system in S. frugiperda, we sequenced and assembled the antennae and maxillae transcriptome of larvae in the sixth instar (larval a-m) using the Illumina platform. A total of 30 putative chemosensory receptor genes were identified, and these receptors included 11 odorant receptors (ORs), 4 gustatory receptors (GRs), and 15 ionotropic receptors/ionotropic glutamate receptors (IRs/iGluRs). Phylogeny tests with the candidate receptors and homologs from other insect species revealed some specific genes, including a fructose receptor, a pheromone receptor, IR co-receptors, CO2 receptors, and the OR co-receptor. Comparison of the expression of annotated genes between S. frugiperda adults and larvae (larval a-m) using RT-qPCR showed that most of the annotated OR and GR genes were predominantly expressed in the adult stage, but that 2 ORs and 1 GR were highly expressed in both the adult antennae and the larval a-m. Although most of the tested IR/iGluR genes were mainly expressed in adult antennae, transcripts of 3 iGluRs were significantly more abundant in the larval a-m than in the adult antennae of both sexes. Comparison of the expression levels of larval a-m expressed chemosensory receptors among the first, fourth, and sixth instars revealed that the expression of some of the genes varied significantly among different larval stages. These results increase our understanding of the chemosensory systems of S. frugiperda larvae and provide a basis for future functional studies aimed at the development of novel strategies to manage this pest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ya-Lan Sun
- College of Horticulture and Plant Protection, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, China
| | - Peng-Shuo Jiang
- College of Horticulture and Plant Protection, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, China
| | - Bing-Xin Dong
- College of Horticulture and Plant Protection, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, China
| | - Cai-Hong Tian
- Institute of Plant Protection, Henan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Cai-Hong Tian, ; Jun-Feng Dong,
| | - Jun-Feng Dong
- College of Horticulture and Plant Protection, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, China
- *Correspondence: Cai-Hong Tian, ; Jun-Feng Dong,
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