scholarly journals A beta-glucosidase of an insect herbivore determines both toxicity and deterrence of a dandelion defense metabolite

eLife ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meret Huber ◽  
Thomas Roder ◽  
Sandra Irmisch ◽  
Alexander Riedel ◽  
Saskia Gablenz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plant Defense ◽  
Feeding Preference ◽  
Defense Compounds ◽  
Melolontha Melolontha ◽  
The Common ◽  
Common Dandelion ◽  
Beta Glucosidase ◽  
Insect Gut ◽  
Root Herbivore ◽  
Plant Herbivore

Gut enzymes can metabolize plant defense compounds and thereby affect the growth and fitness of insect herbivores. Whether these enzymes also influence feeding preference is largely unknown. We studied the metabolization of taraxinic acid β-D-glucopyranosyl ester (TA-G), a sesquiterpene lactone of the common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) that deters its major root herbivore, the common cockchafer larva (Melolontha melolontha). We have demonstrated that TA-G is rapidly deglucosylated and conjugated to glutathione in the insect gut. A broad-spectrum M. melolontha β-glucosidase, Mm_bGlc17, is sufficient and necessary for TA-G deglucosylation. Using cross-species RNA interference, we have shown that Mm_bGlc17 reduces TA-G toxicity. Furthermore, Mm_bGlc17 is required for the preference of M. melolontha larvae for TA-G-deficient plants. Thus, herbivore metabolism modulates both the toxicity and deterrence of a plant defense compound. Our work illustrates the multifaceted roles of insect digestive enzymes as mediators of plant-herbivore interactions.

scholarly journals A beta-glucosidase of an insect herbivore determines both toxicity and deterrence of a dandelion defense metabolite

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meret Huber ◽  
Thomas Roder ◽  
Sandra Irmisch ◽  
Alexander Riedel ◽  
Saskia Gablenz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plant Defense ◽  
Feeding Preference ◽  
Melolontha Melolontha ◽  
Herbivore Interactions ◽  
The Common ◽  
Common Dandelion ◽  
Beta Glucosidase ◽  
Insect Gut ◽  
Root Herbivore ◽  
Plant Herbivore

Gut enzymes can metabolize plant defense metabolites and thereby affect the growth and fitness of insect herbivores. Whether these enzymes also influence herbivore behavior and feeding preference is largely unknown. We studied the metabolization of taraxinic acid β-D-glucopyranosyl ester (TA-G), a sesquiterpene lactone of the common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) that deters its major root herbivore, the common cockchafer larva (Melolontha melolontha). We demonstrate that TA-G is rapidly deglycosylated and conjugated to glutathione in the insect gut. A broad-spectrum M. melolontha β-glucosidase, Mm_bGlc17, is sufficient and necessary for TA-G deglycosylation. Using plants and insect RNA interference, we show that Mm_bGlc17 reduces TA-G toxicity. Furthermore, Mm_bGlc17 is required for the preference of M. melolontha larvae for TA-G deficient plants. Thus, herbivore metabolism modulates both the toxicity and deterrence of a plant defense metabolite. Our work illustrates the multifacteted roles of insect digestive enzymes as mediators of plant-herbivore interactions.

scholarly journals Distinct defense strategies allow different grassland species to cope with root herbivore attack

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maxime R Hervé ◽  
Matthias Erb
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Tissue Loss ◽  
Insect Herbivores ◽  
List Type ◽  
Spotted Knapweed ◽  
Defense Strategies ◽  
Grassland Species ◽  
Melolontha Melolontha ◽  
Common Dandelion ◽  
Root Herbivore

AbstractRoot-feeding insect herbivores are of substantial evolutionary, ecological and economical importance. Plants can resist insect herbivores through a variety of tolerance and resistance strategies. To date, few studies have systematically assessed the prevalence and importance of these strategies for root-herbivore interactions across different plant species.Here, we characterize the defense strategies used by three different grassland species to cope with a generalist root herbivore, the larvae of the European cockchafer Melolontha melolontha.Our results reveal that the different plant species rely on distinct sets of defense strategies. The spotted knapweed (Centaurea stoebe) resists attack by dissuading the larvae through the release of repellent chemicals. White clover (Trifolium repens) does not repel the herbivore, but reduces feeding, most likely through structural defenses and low nutritional quality. Finally, the common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) allows M. melolontha to feed abundantly but compensates for tissue loss through induced regrowth.Synthesis: Three co-occurring plant species have evolved different solutions to defend themselves against attack by a generalist root herbivore. The different root defense strategies may reflect distinct defense syndromes.

scholarly journals Adaptations and responses of the common dandelion to low atmospheric pressure in high altitude environments

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carla C. M. Arce ◽  
Zoe Bont ◽  
Ricardo A. R. Machado ◽  
Paulo F. Cristaldo ◽  
Matthias Erb
Keyword(s):  
High Altitude ◽  
Atmospheric Pressure ◽  
The Common ◽  
Low Atmospheric Pressure ◽  
Common Dandelion

scholarly journals The race goes on: A fall armyworm-resistant maize inbred line influences insect oral secretion elicitation activity and nullifies herbivore suppression of plant defense

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saif ul Malook ◽  
Xiao-Feng Liu ◽  
Wende Liu ◽  
Jinfeng Qi ◽  
Shaoqun Zhou
Keyword(s):  
Plant Defense ◽  
Host Plant ◽  
Inbred Line ◽  
Defense Mechanisms ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Fall Armyworm ◽  
Defense Responses ◽  
Feeding Preference ◽  
Maize Inbred Line ◽  
Oral Secretion

Fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) is an invasive lepidopteran pest with strong feeding preference towards maize (Zea mays). Its success on maize is facilitated by a suite of specialized detoxification and manipulation mechanisms that curtail host plant defense responses. In this study, we identified a Chinese maize inbred line Xi502 that was able to mount effective defense in response to fall armyworm attack. Comparative transcriptomics analyses, phytohormonal measurements, and targeted benzoxazinoid quantification consistently demonstrate significant inducible defense responses in Xi502, but not in the susceptible reference inbred line B73. In 24 hours, fall armyworm larvae feeding on B73 showed accelerated maturation-oriented transcriptomic responses and more changes in detoxification gene expression compared to their Xi502-fed sibling. Interestingly, oral secretions collected from larvae fed on B73 and Xi502 leaves demonstrated distinct elicitation activity when applied on either host genotypes, suggesting that variation in both insect oral secretion composition and host plant alleles could influence plant defense response. These results revealed host plant adaptation towards counter-defense mechanisms in a specialist insect herbivore, adding yet another layer to the evolutionary arms race between maize and fall armyworm. This could facilitate future investigation into the molecular mechanisms in this globally important crop-pest interaction system.

scholarly journals Emerging Concepts in Effector Biology of Plant-Associated Organisms

2009 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 115-122 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saskia A. Hogenhout ◽  
Renier A. L. Van der Hoorn ◽  
Ryohei Terauchi ◽  
Sophien Kamoun
Keyword(s):  
Plant Defense ◽  
Plant Pathogen ◽  
Plant Tissue ◽  
Plant Colonization ◽  
Molecular Function ◽  
Pathogen Effectors ◽  
The Common ◽  
Mechanistic Understanding

Plant-associated organisms secrete proteins and other molecules to modulate plant defense circuitry and enable colonization of plant tissue. Understanding the molecular function of these secreted molecules, collectively known as effectors, became widely accepted as essential for a mechanistic understanding of the processes underlying plant colonization. This review summarizes recent findings in the field of effector biology and highlights the common concepts that have emerged from the study of cellular plant pathogen effectors.

scholarly journals Urbanization alters plastic responses in the common dandelion Taraxacum officinale

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 4082-4090
Author(s):  
Matti Pisman ◽  
Dries Bonte ◽  
Eduardo Peña
Keyword(s):  
Taraxacum Officinale ◽  
The Common ◽  
Common Dandelion ◽  
Plastic Responses

The Genetic Architecture of Plant Defense Trade-offs in a Common Monkeyflower

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas J Kooyers ◽  
Abigail Donofrio ◽  
Benjamin K Blackman ◽  
Liza M Holeski
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Plant Defense ◽  
Genetic Linkage ◽  
Genetic Architecture ◽  
Life History Traits ◽  
Total Concentration ◽  
Defense Compounds ◽  
Genetic Constraints ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Phenylpropanoid Glycosides

Abstract Determining how adaptive combinations of traits arose requires understanding the prevalence and scope of genetic constraints. Frequently observed phenotypic correlations between plant growth, defenses, and/or reproductive timing have led researchers to suggest that pleiotropy or strong genetic linkage between variants affecting independent traits is pervasive. Alternatively, these correlations could arise via independent mutations in different genes for each trait and extensive correlational selection. Here we evaluate these alternatives by conducting a quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping experiment involving a cross between 2 populations of common monkeyflower (Mimulus guttatus) that differ in growth rate as well as total concentration and arsenal composition of plant defense compounds, phenylpropanoid glycosides (PPGs). We find no evidence that pleiotropy underlies correlations between defense and growth rate. However, there is a strong genetic correlation between levels of total PPGs and flowering time that is largely attributable to a single shared QTL. While this result suggests a role for pleiotropy/close linkage, several other QTLs also contribute to variation in total PPGs. Additionally, divergent PPG arsenals are influenced by a number of smaller-effect QTLs that each underlie variation in 1 or 2 PPGs. This result indicates that chemical defense arsenals can be finely adapted to biotic environments despite sharing a common biochemical precursor. Together, our results show correlations between defense and life-history traits are influenced by pleiotropy or genetic linkage, but genetic constraints may have limited impact on future evolutionary responses, as a substantial proportion of variation in each trait is controlled by independent loci.

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