Defense Responses in the Interactions between Medicinal Plants from Lamiaceae Family and the Two-Spotted Spider Mite Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae)

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the effects of plant species on the biological parameters of Tetranychus urticae Koch and the time of mite infestation on plant physiology in Ocimum basilicum L., Melissa officinalis L. and Salvia officinalis L. Mite infestation induced various levels of oxidative stress depending on plant species and the duration of infestation. Host plants affected T. urticae life table parameters. The low level of susceptibility was characteristic of S. officinalis, which appeared to be the least infected plant species and reduced mites demographic parameters. Infested leaves of S. officinalis contained elevated levels of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and malondialdehyde (MDA) compared to control. In addition, higher membrane lipid peroxidation and higher activity of guaiacol peroxidase (GPX) and lower activity of catalase (CAT) were recorded with a longer mite infestation. In contrast, O. basilicum appeared to be a suitable host on which T. urticae could develop and increase in number. In basil leaves, increasing levels of hydrogen peroxide and MDA with elevated GPX activity and strongly decreased catalase activity were recorded. Knowledge of the differences in mite susceptibility of the tested medicinal plants described in this study has the potential to be applied in breeding strategies and integrated T. urticae pest management in medicinal plant cultivations.

Nitric Oxide in Plant Functioning: Metabolism, Signaling, and Responses to Infestation with Ecdysozoa Parasites

“…The literature on NO-dependent responses of plants infested with arachnids is extremely limited [175,244]. In plants infested with arachnids, the involvement of ROS metabolism [245][246][247], antioxidant enzymes [246,248], phytohormone interactions [249,250], and transcriptomic [251,252] and proteomic changes [253] have been studied. Nevertheless, despite the proven strong links between NO and the response to biotic stresses, there is no direct evidence in the literature.…”

Current Situation of Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Tetranychidae) in Northern Africa: The Sustainable Control Methods and Priorities for Future Research

“…In Egypt, the generations of T. urticae follow one another at a rapid pace (approximately 27 generations per year) [30], T. urticae on Hood pear variety; the highest mean number of eggs laid by a female was 143.6 eggs/female with a daily rate of 16.7 eggs/female/day at 30 • C [31]. In Moroccan conditions, this pest presents an optimal development at temperatures of 30 • C. The female can generate a high number of eggs in a short time; for instance, on clementine, they can lay about 34 eggs in a period of 17 days (the biological cycle takes from 8 to 12 days in optimal condition) [32,33]. The drying up of leaves due to T. urticae, can negatively affect the crop's green matter (GM) yield.…”

“…Tetranychus urticae represents one of the most destructive generalists among mite herbivores [33]. It is considered a major pest decreasing plant growth and yield on different crops [47].…”

Effect of New Pre-Emergence Herbicides on Quality and Yield of Potato and Its Associated Weeds

“…Our results agree with Mahmoud et al [38] and Arvin et al [39] who found that MSI decreased with increasing stress conditions, such as the toxicity of herbicides. Regarding to lipid peroxidation, lipid peroxidation produces malondialdehyde (MDA), a product of the breakdown of fatty acids of membranes, which causes a collapse to plant cells [40]. Weed control treatments revealed significant differences in MDA.…”

“…These results are contradictory to those by Alves et al [41], who observed that lipid peroxidation (MDA formed) in shoot tissues of Vicia sativa clearly increased after fomesafen application. Additionally, after bentazone application in two peanut cultivars, MDA contents increased, indicating occurrence of lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress Regarding to lipid peroxidation, lipid peroxidation produces malondialdehyde (MDA), a product of the breakdown of fatty acids of membranes, which causes a collapse to plant cells [40]. Weed control treatments revealed significant differences in MDA.…”