The herbivore‐induced plant volatile tetradecane enhances plant resistance to Holotrichia parallela larvae in maize roots

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Many herbivore-induced volatiles have been proven to act as signaling compounds to regulate nearby plant defense responses. However, the precise roles of key volatiles produced by maize roots after Holotrichia parallela larva feeding remain largely unknown.RESULTS: We investigated changes in phytohormones and volatiles in maize roots after H. parallela larval infestation. Marked increases in the phytohormone jasmonic acid (JA) and the volatiles jasmone and tetradecane were induced by herbivores, whereas the salicylic acid content decreased. In addition, pre-exposure to tetradecane markedly increased the levels of the stress hormone JA, its precursors and derivatives, and related gene expression. In addition, pre-exposure altered the production of defensive benzoxazinoid secondary metabolites, resulting in increased plant resistance to H. parallela larvae. Plants pre-exposed to jasmone did not differ from control plants. In addition, bioassays showed that H. parallela larval growth was suppressed by feeding maize roots after pre-exposure to tetradecane.CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate that tetradecane may function as a potent defense induction signal that prepares neighboring plants for incoming attacks.

Antagonist Temperature Variation Affects the Photosynthetic Parameters and Secondary Metabolites of Ocimum basilicum L. and Salvia officinalis L.

“…Plants are very vulnerable to climate change effects [ 10 , 11 ], such as changes in temperature [ 1 , 2 , 5 ], water status (drought, flooding) [ 12 ], rising atmospheric CO 2 concentration [ 13 , 14 , 15 ], the attacks of herbivores [ 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 ] and pathogens [ 16 , 20 , 21 ]. Among these climate change effects, increased temperatures negatively impact plant development and crop production [ 1 , 11 , 22 ].…”

PI3K/Akt/CncC signaling pathway mediates the response to EPN‐Bt infection in Holotrichia parallela larvae

“…parallela larvae are below-ground herbivores that commonly cause great economic damage by attacking the roots or stems of crops. 48 A recent study indicated the combined application of EPN and Bt had synergistic or additive mortality effects against H. parallela larvae, and the additive action may result from some kind of defense response present in the grubs. 38 In addition, a large number of studies have indicated that the antioxidant and detoxifying enzymes in insects are involved in the defense against EPN or Bt infection.…”

The role of tetradecane in the identification of host plants by the mirid bugs Apolygus lucorum and Adelphocoris suturalis and potential application in pest management

“…Tetradecane is a straight-chain alkane that has a role as a plant metabolite and a volatile component. It also functions as a potent defence induction signal that prepares neighbouring plants for incoming attacks from insect pests ( Pan et al, 2022 ). Some herbivore-infested plants produce tetradecane, which acts as kairomone to attract the pest’s natural enemies ( Li et al, 2022 ).…”