Restoring a maize root signal that attracts insect-killing nematodes to control a major pest

Abstract

Fig. 2.Transformants releasing E␤C suffered less damage than control lines when EPNs were present. (A) Root damage measured on plants that had received neither WCR eggs nor nematodes was minimal, and there was no difference between transformed and nontransformed plants (n ϭ 5, P ϭ 0.87). (B) Root damage on plants that received only WCR eggs, but no nematodes, was substantial. Again, no significant difference was found between the transformed and nontransformed plants (n ϭ 5, P ϭ 0.18). (C) In plots that received WCR eggs and H. megidis, roots from transformed plants (pooled) had significantly less damage than roots from control lines (n ϭ 30, P ϭ 0.007). Approximately one-quarter of the transformed plants were found not to emit E␤C. Removing these plants from the statistical analysis did not significantly affect the results. The letters above the bars indicate significant differences within a graph. Error bars indicate standard errors.

Strong Attraction of the Parasitoid Cotesia marginiventris Towards Minor Volatile Compounds of Maize

“…In conclusion, when new methods are used to analyze HIPV blends in a more comprehensive manner, the eventual identification of key attractants or repellents for parasitoids and predators may provide potential to improve biological control of insect pests. The transformation of maize plants with a gene responsible for the biosynthesis of a (E)-ß-caryophyllene, a key volatile attractant for entomopathogenic nematodes of the Western corn rootworm, is a recent example of how the HIPV-blend can be modified to successfully control this ferocious root pest of maize plants (Degenhardt et al 2009). …”

Influence of drought on plant performance through changes in belowground tritrophic interactions

“…Their impact on plant performance depends on a number of factors, including host plant resistance (Huber et al., 2016), top‐down control by natural enemies (Degenhardt et al., 2009), and abiotic environmental conditions (Erb & Lu, 2013). In the context of climate change, temperature, soil moisture, and CO 2 are increasingly recognized as abiotic modulators of root herbivore interactions (Hiltpold, Johnson, Bayon, & Nielsen, 2017; Johnson et al., 2010; McKenzie et al., 2016).…”

The Role of Root-Produced Volatile Secondary Metabolites in Mediating Soil Interactions

“…Here, we will focus our attention to the role of plant VOCs exudation and their effect on various soil organisms including other plants, microorganisms, herbivores and particularly predators of the herbivore. Particularly, volatile terpene production, physiology, emission, and effect on other organisms has been the concern of incredible work on aboveground interactions (Pichersky, Noel, and Dudareva 2006), and a recent trend in research has highlighting their role in belowground interactions and physiology (Degenhardt 2009;Degenhardt et al 2009;Kollner et al 2008). The evolution, detection, and manipulation of such compounds will finally be discussed as a potential tool for biotechnological improvement of resistance against agricultural root feeding pests (Turlings and Ton 2006).…”