Systemic whitefly‐induced metabolic responses in newly developed distal leaves of husk tomato plants (Physalis philadelphica) impairs whiteflies development

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Metabolic reconfiguration in plants is a hallmark response to insect herbivory that occurs in the attack site and systemically in undamaged tissues. Metabolomic systemic responses can occur rapidly while the herbivore is still present and may persist in newly developed tissue to counterattack future herbivore attacks. This study analyzed the metabolic profile of local and newly developed distal (systemic) leaves of husk tomato (Physalis philadelphica) plants after whitefly Trialeurodes vaporariorum infestation. In addition, the effect of these metabolomic adjustments on whitefly oviposition and development was evaluated. RESULTS: Our results indicate that T. vaporariorum infestation induced significant changes in husk tomato metabolic profiles, not only locally in infested leaves, but also systemically in distal leaves that developed after infestation. The distinctive metabolic profile produced in newly developed leaves affected whitefly nymphal development but did not affect female oviposition, suggesting that changes driven by whitefly herbivory persist in the young leaves that developed after the infestation event to avoid future herbivore attacks.CONCLUSIONS: This report contributes to further understanding the plant responses to sucking insects by describing the metabolic reconfiguration in newly developed, undamaged systemic leaf tissues of husk tomato plants after whitefly infestation.

Advances in Physalis molecular research: applications in authentication, genetic diversity, phylogenetics, functional genes, and omics

“…Husk tomato ( P. philadelphica ) seedlings are susceptible to infestation by the whitefly Trialeurodes vaporariorum . A newly published metabolome study showed that P. philadelphica impairs whitefly development by inducing significant changes in metabolic profiles ( Meza-Canales et al., 2022 ). Metabolomics researches provide us an opportunity to understand the differences in types and contents of active ingredients in Physalis plants.…”