Plant training for induced defense against insect pests: a promising tool for integrated pest management in cotton

Abstract

Enhancing cotton pest management using plant natural defenses has been described as a promising way to improve the management of crop pests. We here reviewed various studies on cotton growing systems to illustrate how an ancient technique called plant training, which includes plant topping and pruning, may contribute to this goal. Using examples from cotton crops, we show how trained plants can be brought to a state of enhanced defense that causes faster and more robust activation of their defense responses. We revisit the agricultural benefits associated with this technique in cotton crops, with a focus on its potential as a supplementary tool for integrated pest management (IPM). In particular, we examine its role in mediating plant interactions with conspecific neighboring plants, pests and associated natural enemies. We propose a new IPM tool, plant training for induced defense, which involves inducing plant defense through artificial injury. Experimental evidence from various studies shows that cotton training is a promising technique, particularly for smallholders, which can be used as part of an IPM program to significantly reduce insecticide use and to improve productivity in cotton farming. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.

Caterpillar-Induced Volatile Emissions in Cotton: The Relative Importance of Damage and Insect-Derived Factors

“…Secondly, the difference in emissions from plants treated with cotton- and maize-derived secretions may imply that unidentified cotton DAMPs, help the plants to recognize self-damage. Cotton plants have been shown to particularly amenable to priming with inducible volatiles; they can become considerably resistant to insect attack if they have been exposed to volatiles from attacked plants ( Renou et al, 2011 ; Llandres et al, 2018 ). Therefore, further unraveling the respective roles of HAMPs and DAMPs present in the oral secretion of caterpillars fed in inducing cotton leaf volatiles may provide crucial information that can help to improve cotton defenses against important pests in an agricultural context.…”

Sensing the Danger Signals: cis-Jasmone Reduces Aphid Performance on Potato and Modulates the Magnitude of Released Volatiles

“…This in turn, in addition to branching and flowers increase, significantly reduced the attack of many lepidopteran pests in cotton. Remarkably, this not only occurred in topped plants, but also was extended to encompass neighboring plants that were not topped, suggesting that the released VOCs from topped plants can protect their neighbor plants from an impending attack by repelling herbivores and/or attracting beneficial insects (Llandres et al, 2019).…”

Repenser la gestion des ravageurs du cotonnier en Afrique de l’Ouest

“…Des substances allélochimiques sont également impliquées dans la réaction induite de défense des plantes, consécutive à une attaque de ravageur, et qui peuvent affecter le comportement, la croissance ou les ravageurs (War et al, 2012) : dissuasion des femelles en quête d'un site de ponte ou attraction des ennemis naturels via l'émission de composés organiques volatiles (HIPV, herbivore-induced plant volatiles), érection de barrières physiques, production de composés toxiques ou répulsifs (protéines de défense, métabolites secondaires comme le gossypol, trichomes), production de ressources pour les ennemis naturels (par exemple, nectaires et nectar extrafloral), ou encore induction des plantes voisines qui vont-elles-mêmes se mettre à produire des molécules de défense (Llandres et al, 2018). Des expérimentations conduites au Mali depuis plusieurs années ont montré que l'écimage des cotonniers permet de réduire significativement l'incidence de plusieurs insectes ravageurs, en particulier les chenilles de la capsule (Renou et al, 2011).…”