Virus‐induced plant volatiles mediate the olfactory behaviour of its insect vectors

Abstract

Plant viruses can manipulate their hosts to release odours that are attractive or repellent to their insect vectors. However, the volatile organic compounds (VOCs), either individually or as mixtures, which play a key role in the olfactory behaviour of insect vectors remains largely unknown. Our study focused on green rice leafhoppers (GRLHs) vectoring rice dwarf virus (RDV) revealed that RDV infection significantly induced the emission of (E)-β-caryophyllene and 2-heptanol by rice plants, which influenced the olfactory behaviour of both non-viruliferous and viruliferous GRLHs.(E)-β-caryophyllene attracted non-viruliferous GRLHs to settle on RDV-infected plants, but neither attracted nor repelled viruliferous GRLHs. In contrast, 2-heptanol repelled viruliferous GRLHs to settle on RDV-infected plants, but neither repelled nor attracted non-viruliferous GRLHs. Suppression of (E)-β-caryophyllene synthase OsCAS via CRISPR-Cas9 to generate oscas-1 plants enabled us to confirm the important role played by (E)-β-caryophyllene in modulating the virus-vector-host plant interaction. These novel results reveal the role of these virus-induced VOCs in modulating the behaviour of its GRLH insect vector and may facilitate the design of new strategies for disease control through manipulation of plant volatile emissions.

Heat stress affects potato's volatile emissions that mediate agronomically important trophic interactions

“…For example, ß‐caryophyllene emission from orange leaves ( Citrus sinensis ) from storage pools was temperature‐dependent as it increased 5.6‐folds with a 10ºC rise in temperature (Hansen & Seufert, 2003). It is a highly reactive sesquiterpene that has been reported as a dominant constitutive or induced volatile emitted from foliage in various plant species (Chang et al, 2021; Chen et al, 2021a). In our study, HT pre‐stress enhanced potato defense responses via deterring herbivores and attracting parasitoids, most likely through the increased emissions of the dominant VOC ß‐caryophyllene, although other VOCs might be involved too.…”

Increasing the activities of protective enzymes is an important strategy to improve resistance in cucumber to powdery mildew disease and melon aphid under different infection/infestation patterns

“…Pathogens and insects continuously affect the growth and development of plants. Although plants have evolved complex defense strategies ( Wang S. Y. et al, 2021 ), at the same time, pests and diseases have evolved corresponding strategies to create favorable conditions for their interaction with the host ( Chang et al, 2021 ; Pan et al, 2021 ). For example, in order to better colonize the host and reproduce, pests and pathogens will choose cooperation and mutual benefit to jointly resist defense substances and physiological reactions from plants ( Dáder et al, 2017 ; Li et al, 2017 ; Jayasinghe et al, 2021 ; Franco et al, 2022 ).…”

Molecular mechanisms, genetic mapping, and genome editing for insect pest resistance in field crops

“…Besides feeding on several plant parts, insects also act as carriers or vectors for various plant parasitic viruses Shabir H. Wani, Mukesh Choudhary and Rutwik Barmukh contributed equally to the manuscript. (Chang et al 2021) and cause extreme plant damage. Despite extensive efforts of plant breeders, over US $70 billion are invested annually world-wide for the management of insect pest damage (Bradshaw et al 2016).…”

“…Insect damage is one of the major biotic constraints limiting the productivity and production of major field-grown crops. Besides feeding on several plant parts, insects also act as carriers or vectors for various plant parasitic viruses (Chang et al 2021 ) and cause extreme plant damage. Despite extensive efforts of plant breeders, over US $70 billion are invested annually world-wide for the management of insect pest damage (Bradshaw et al 2016 ).…”