Legumes Protease Inhibitors as Biopesticides and Their Defense Mechanisms against Biotic Factors

Abstract

Legumes are affected by biotic factors such as insects, molds, bacteria, and viruses. These plants can produce many different molecules in response to the attack of phytopathogens. Protease inhibitors (PIs) are proteins produced by legumes that inhibit the protease activity of phytopathogens. PIs are known to reduce nutrient availability, which diminishes pathogen growth and can lead to the death of the pathogen. PIs are classified according to the specificity of the mechanistic activity of the proteolytic enzymes, with serine and cysteine protease inhibitors being studied the most. Previous investigations have reported the efficacy of these highly stable proteins against diverse biotic factors and the concomitant protective effects in crops, representing a possible replacement of toxic agrochemicals that harm the environment.

Bio-Insecticide of Thymus vulgaris and Ocimum basilicum Extract from Cell Suspensions and Their Inhibitory Effect against Serine, Cysteine, and Metalloproteinases of the Red Palm Weevil (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus)

“…Recent reports demonstrated the effect of the latex of Calotrapos gigantean as serine protease inhibitors (SPIs) that can work as an insecticide of R. ferrugineus in the midgut [ 21 ]. Reports have substantiated the efficacy of protease inhibitors against diverse biotic factors and the associated protecting properties in crops, representing potential environmentally friendly agrochemicals [ 22 ]. Monoterpene derivatives showed pesticidal properties, rendering them as good leads for the development of safe and ecofriendly agents [ 23 ].…”

Biological control of invasive stink bugs: review of global state and future prospects

“…This is possibly related to the priming of JA-dependent genes, including a cysteine proteinase inhibitor. The use of proteinase inhibitors in agriculture can be implemented through the development of transgenic plants, the use of recombinant microorganisms, or production of biopesticides (reviewed by Rodr ıguez-Sifuentes et al, 2020).…”

Genetic Transformation in Agro-Economically Important Legumes

“…On its own, climate change continues to threaten the metabolic productivity of legumes and other equally important crops. Problems, such as biological invasion at planting fields, have become exacerbated, leading to the infection of legume plants by bacterial, viral, fungal, and insect pathogens [27][28][29]. These pathogens cause diseases, such as wilt and blight, which have a negative impact on the production of quality crops.…”

“…Mangena [14] mentions that because of the sessile nature of plants, they are unable to evade the environmental fluctuations in their ecosystems, such as temperature extremes, harmful ultraviolet radiation, soil salinity, prolonged drought periods, and pest outbreaks. As a result, they have evolved innate survival mechanisms, such as physical (e.g., spines and thorns on branches) and chemical defences (e.g., production of protease inhibitors and lectins), which protect the plants' biosynthetic machinery from damage [27,29]. Although these defence mechanisms protect the crops throughout their life cycles, the severity of environmental conditions renders them ineffective to a certain extent.…”