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Agronomy
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Biological Interactions of Pests
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Biological Interactions of Pests

A special issue of Agronomy (ISSN 2073-4395). This special issue belongs to the section "Pest and Disease Management".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 February 2022) | Viewed by 16389

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Lilin Zhao

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
The State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beichen West Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100101, China
Interests: multi-species interactions; chemical ecology; ecology genomics; molecular ecology; behaviour; development; immunity
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Zhen Zou

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
The State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beichen West Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100101, China
Interests: insect development, immunity; mosquito reproduction; pathogen transmission; antifungal and antiviral immune response
Dr. Yanhong Wang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
The State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beichen West Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100101, China
Interests: insects; mosquito; antifungal; innate immunity; melanization; vector-borne disease; defense; immune signal pathway

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

There has been a continual increase in the number of pests or insects representing problems in agricultural ecology. Certain aspects such as the behavior, immune system, development, etc., of pests could be used as new targets in ecological control measures. At present, these studies not only focus on the community level of insects themselves but also on their interactions with other organisms. These biological interactions have influence on the chemical communication, formation of social division, and even the evolution of the involved species.

In recent years, advances have been made in understanding the mechanisms of numerous popular cases of biological interactions, particularly in multi-species interactions. For example, the development of new research technologies in multi-omics, microbiome, neuroendocrinology, and chemical analysis will allow uncovering the signaling molecules and related signal pathways between some interactions of concern, e.g., intestinal microbial associates–insects, vector insects–pathogens, and natural enemy–insects–plants.

This Special Issue will focus on “Biological Interactions of Pests”. We welcome novel research, review, and opinion pieces covering all related topics including chemical communication, genetics and epigenetics, beneficial microorganisms, physiological responses, novel molecules and their signaling pathways, management solutions, modeling, case studies from the field, and policy positions.

Dr. Lilin Zhao
Dr. Zhen Zou
Dr. Yanhong Wang
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Agronomy is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • biological interaction
  • insect pests
  • ecology adaptations
  • coevolution
  • molecular interaction
  • behavior
  • development

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

Jump to: Review

14 pages, 1781 KiB  
Article
Defining Suitable Reference Genes for qRT-PCR in Plagiodera versicolora (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) under Different Biotic or Abiotic Conditions
by Chengjie Tu, Pei Xu, Runhua Han, Jing Luo and Letian Xu
Agronomy 2022, 12(5), 1192; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12051192 - 15 May 2022
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2283
Abstract
Plagiodera versicolora (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) is one of the most destructive pests of the Salicaceae worldwide, which has established complex interactions with surrounding organisms. Uncovering the molecular mechanisms of some antagonistic interactions would facilitate the development of environmentally friendly pest insect management strategies. Suitable [...] Read more.
Plagiodera versicolora (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) is one of the most destructive pests of the Salicaceae worldwide, which has established complex interactions with surrounding organisms. Uncovering the molecular mechanisms of some antagonistic interactions would facilitate the development of environmentally friendly pest insect management strategies. Suitable reference genes are essential for reliable qPCR and gene expression analysis in molecular studies; however, a comprehensive assessment of reference genes in P. versicolora is still lacking. In this study, the stability of seven housekeeping genes (including Actin, EF1A, α-tubulin, RPL13a, RPS18, RPL8 and UBC) was investigated under both biotic (developmental stages, tissues, sex and pathogen treatment) and abiotic (RNA interference treatment, temperature treatment) conditions. The geNorm, NormFinder, BestKeeper, and ΔCt programs were used to analyze gene expression data. The RefFinder synthesis analysis was applied to suggest a handful of appropriate reference genes for each experimental condition. RPS18 and EF1A were the most reliable reference genes in different development stages; RPS18 and RPL8 were most stable in female and male adults, different tissues, different temperatures, and pathogen treatment; α-tubulin and RPL13a were most stable after dietary RNAi treatment. The research provides a strong basis for future research into the molecular biology of P. versicolora. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biological Interactions of Pests)
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17 pages, 2027 KiB  
Article
Foliar and Soil Treatments of Brassica napus That Elicit Antibiosis in Brevicoryne brassicae
by Muhammad Wajid Javed, Mansoor ul Hasan, Muhammad Sagheer, Shahbaz Talib Sahi and Richard W. Mankin
Agronomy 2022, 12(4), 882; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12040882 - 5 Apr 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2354
Abstract
In screenhouses, foliar and soil applications of induced resistance (IR), nutrient deterrence (ND), and soil amendment (SAM) treatments to canola, Brassica napus L., reduced fitness in an aphid pest, Brevicoryne brassicae L. Effects of different combinations and doses of IR, ND, and SAM [...] Read more.
In screenhouses, foliar and soil applications of induced resistance (IR), nutrient deterrence (ND), and soil amendment (SAM) treatments to canola, Brassica napus L., reduced fitness in an aphid pest, Brevicoryne brassicae L. Effects of different combinations and doses of IR, ND, and SAM on aphids were compared with those of labeled doses of Carbosulfan and a control. Dose differences between treatments and the control were found for several measures of B. brassicae fitness, including Kaplan–Meier functions, reproduction time, effective fecundity (Md), intrinsic rates of natural increase (rm), relative growth rate (RGR), and generation time. Progeny, development/pre-reproductive period, and percent progeny nymph survival were also significantly different from the control. Carbosulfan was the most rapidly acting treatment; however, 1 mM salicylic acid (SA) produced statistically significant reductions in aphid fitness compared to the control, followed by 1 mM citric acid (CA), 0.5 mM SA, and 0.5 mM CA. Silicon (Si) at 50 kg/ha was the most effective ND approach. Ammonium sulfate (AS) only decreased fitness at 25 kg/ha. The SAM combinations of both elemental sulfur (ES) and bio-sulfur (BS) treatments with compost (Cp) also yielded statistically significant aphid fitness reductions. These results provide context for future exploration of IR, ND, and SAM approaches to improve canola yield and reduce aphid damage. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biological Interactions of Pests)
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18 pages, 25178 KiB  
Article
Interaction Analysis of Odorant-Binding Protein 12 from Sirex noctilio and Volatiles from Host Plants and Symbiotic Fungi Based on Molecule Dynamics Simulation
by Hao Rong, Yini Li, Enhua Hao, Xiaohui Yuan, Pengfei Lu and Haili Qiao
Agronomy 2022, 12(4), 861; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12040861 - 31 Mar 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1961
Abstract
As a quarantine pest of conifer, Sirex noctilio has caused widespread harm around the world. It is expected that the molecular mechanism of protein–ligand binding can be elucidated to carry out the pest control. Through studies of SnocOBP12–ligand hydrophobic binding and dynamics and [...] Read more.
As a quarantine pest of conifer, Sirex noctilio has caused widespread harm around the world. It is expected that the molecular mechanism of protein–ligand binding can be elucidated to carry out the pest control. Through studies of SnocOBP12–ligand hydrophobic binding and dynamics and responsible amino acid residues identification, we got some promising results. SnocOBP12 had a general and excellent affinity for host plant volatiles, and may be a key protein for S. noctilio to find host plants. Among the many odor molecules that are bound to SnocOBP12, (−)-α-cedrene and (E)-β-farnesene from host plants and (−)-globuol from the symbiotic fungi of Sirex noctilio stood out and formed highly stable complexes with SnocOBP12. By the molecular mechanics Poisson–Boltzmann surface area (MM-PBSA) method, the calculated free binding energy of the three complexes was −30.572 ± 0.101 kcal/mol, −28.349 ± 0.119 kcal/mol and −25.244 ± 0.152 kcal/mol, respectively. It was found that the van der Waals energy contributed to the stability of the complexes. Some key amino acid residues were also found: LEU74 and TYR109 were very important for SnocOBP12 to stably bind (−)-α-cedrene, while for (E)-β-farnesene, ILE6, MET10, and LEU74 were very important for the stable binding system. We discovered three potential ligands and analyzed the interaction pattern of the protein with them, this paper provides a favorable molecular basis for optimizing the attractant formulation. Investigation of the binding characteristics in the olfactory system at the molecular level is helpful to understand the behavior of S. noctilio and develop new methods for more effective and environmentally friendly pest control. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biological Interactions of Pests)
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9 pages, 664 KiB  
Article
Cultivar Mixture Enhances Crop Yield by Decreasing Aphids
by Xueying Duan, Shiye Pan, Mingyuan Fan, Bingyao Chu, Zhanhong Ma, Feng Gao and Zihua Zhao
Agronomy 2022, 12(2), 335; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12020335 - 28 Jan 2022
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2954
Abstract
The reduction in biodiversity owing to agricultural intensification has brought negative effects on sustainable crop production in the agro-environment. Plant diversity can help regulate insect pests; however, research that demonstrates that genotypic diversity of multiple varieties with prominent agroecological practices to suppress insect [...] Read more.
The reduction in biodiversity owing to agricultural intensification has brought negative effects on sustainable crop production in the agro-environment. Plant diversity can help regulate insect pests; however, research that demonstrates that genotypic diversity of multiple varieties with prominent agroecological practices to suppress insect pests and benefit crop yield at agricultural landscapes is limited. To examine the effects of diversity of wheat varieties on aphids and crop productivity, we performed field experiments by designing plots of single (resistant/susceptible) and cultivar mixtures in 2018–2020. The effects of population abundance of cereal aphids (Sitobion miscanthi and Rhopalosiphum padi) and crop yield on resistant and susceptible wheat varieties and mixture of wheat cultivars were determined to reveal the most dominant mixed broadcasting mode in Kaifeng of China. The results showed that cultivar mixture significantly decreased aphid abundance compared with the single varieties (resistant/susceptible). Cultivar mixture had a higher yield compared with the single varieties (resistant/susceptible). Additionally, cultivar mixture had significantly higher thousand-grain weights than susceptible and resistant wheat varieties in 2019 and 2020. Cultivar mixture enhanced wheat yield by decreasing cereal aphids, indicating a bottom-up or top-down effect from genetic diversity to pest abundance. Our results indicated that appropriate cultivar mixtures could manage insect pests to some extent and stabilize crop yield. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biological Interactions of Pests)
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18 pages, 3969 KiB  
Article
Computational Interaction Analysis of Sirex noctilio Odorant-Binding Protein (SnocOBP7) Combined with Female Sex Pheromones and Symbiotic Fungal Volatiles
by Yi-Ni Li, En-Hua Hao, Han Li, Xiao-Hui Yuan, Peng-Fei Lu and Hai-Li Qiao
Agronomy 2021, 11(12), 2461; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11122461 - 2 Dec 2021
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2402
Abstract
Sirex noctilio, a major forestry quarantine pest, has spread rapidly and caused serious harm. However, existing methods still need to be improved because its olfactory interaction mechanisms are poorly understood. In order to study the role of male-specific protein SnocOBP7 in the [...] Read more.
Sirex noctilio, a major forestry quarantine pest, has spread rapidly and caused serious harm. However, existing methods still need to be improved because its olfactory interaction mechanisms are poorly understood. In order to study the role of male-specific protein SnocOBP7 in the protein–ligand interactions, we selected it as the object of computational simulation and analysis. By docking it with 11 ligands and evaluating free binding energy decomposition, the three best binding ligands were found to be female sex pheromones ((Z)-7-heptacosene and (Z)-7-nonacosene) and symbiotic fungal volatiles ((−)-globulol). Binding mode analysis and computational alanine scanning suggested that five residues play key roles in the binding of each female sex pheromone to SnocOBP7, whereas two residues play key roles in (−)-globulol binding. Phe108 and Leu36 may be the crucial sites via which SnocOBP7 binds female sex pheromones, whereas Met40 may regulate the courtship behavior of males, and Leu61 may be related to mating and host finding. Our studies predicted the function of SnocOBP7 and found that the interaction between SnocOBP7 and pheromone is a complex process, and we successfully predicted its binding key amino-acid sites, providing a basis for the development of new prevention and control methods relying on female sex pheromones and symbiotic fungi. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biological Interactions of Pests)
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Review

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15 pages, 1473 KiB  
Review
Direct and Indirect Effects of Invasive vs. Native Ant-Hemipteran Mutualism: A Meta-Analysis That Supports the Mutualism Intensity Hypothesis
by Bo Wang, Min Lu, Yan-Qiong Peng and Simon T. Segar
Agronomy 2021, 11(11), 2323; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11112323 - 17 Nov 2021
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3627
Abstract
Mutualism can facilitate the colonization, establishment, and spread of invasive species. By modifying interactions with third parties, mutualisms can have cascading community-wide effects. Both native and invasive ants are capable of forming mutualisms with hemipteran insects, preying on non-hemipteran herbivores and indirectly affecting [...] Read more.
Mutualism can facilitate the colonization, establishment, and spread of invasive species. By modifying interactions with third parties, mutualisms can have cascading community-wide effects. Both native and invasive ants are capable of forming mutualisms with hemipteran insects, preying on non-hemipteran herbivores and indirectly affecting primary production. Comparative research on the effects of both native and invasive ant exclusions on multitrophic interactions is therefore crucial for understanding the invasive potential of ants, along with any ecological consequences that invasions may have. We performed a quantitative review of the multitrophic effects of invasive and native ants on insect–plant food webs. Herbivorous insects are the most common food source for both invasive (comprising 56% of prey species caught) and native ants (55% of the prey species caught), followed by predators (31% for invasive ants, 45% for native ants). Excluding both invasive and native ants significantly reduced hemipteran abundance, and excluding invasive ants had a greater negative impact on hemipteran abundance than native ants. Native ant predation significantly reduced herbivore abundance, but excluding invasive ants had no effect. Cascading effects of native ants on plant fitness were significantly positive, but there was no significant impact of invasive ants. These findings suggest a weak relationship between the presence of invasive ants and non-hemipteran herbivore abundance. We suggest that the hemipteran–ant mutualism could represent a ‘symbiotic invasion’. The ecological dominance of invasive ants is often facilitated by hemipteran insects. This association requires invasive ant control strategies to expand beyond ants to consider mutualists. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biological Interactions of Pests)
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