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Plant-Insect Interactions
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Plant-Insect Interactions

A special issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant Protection and Biotic Interactions".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 October 2022) | Viewed by 14871

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Wenwu Zhou

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
Interests: biological control; insect-plant interaction; chemical ecology; plant stress biology; smart agriculture
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Ran Li

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
Interests: rice; herbivore; jasmonate; secondary metabolites; transcription factors; signaling transduction

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

If the whole life history of a plant is a “drama”, insects must be the protagonists on the “arena”. They bring “harm” to plants and “steal” their resources; they play roles as faithful “bodyguards” by fighting against herbivores; they are also “cupids” for plants and promote their reproduction. Humans have always been fascinated by this “drama”, exploring wisdom in crop protection and yield promotion that can be achieved through it. With the rapid development of biotechnology, we now have a deeper understanding of plants’ response to insects and begun to produce insightful “reviews” of this “drama”.

We are pleased to announce the launch of a new Special Issue on “Plant–Insect Interactions” in the Plants journal. This issue will highlight the phenotypical responses of plants to insects, the biological function of plant specialized metabolites in these responses, and the molecular and evolutionary basis for interactions between plants and insects.

Dr. Wenwu Zhou
Dr. Ran Li
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • plant–insect interactions
  • plant
  • herbivore
  • natural enemy
  • pollinator
  • molecular ecology

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

27 pages, 6330 KiB  
Article
Analysis of Volatile Secondary Metabolites in Ocimum basilicum Cell Suspensions: Inhibition, In Silico Molecular Docking, and an ADMET Analysis against Proteolytic Enzymes of Rhynchophorus ferrugineus
by Hossam Moustafa Darrag, Hani Taher Almuhanna, Emadaldeen Hamad Hakami and Sameer M. Alhojaily
Plants 2022, 11(21), 2949; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11212949 - 1 Nov 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1961
Abstract
Our study’s overarching goal was to determine which O. basilicum cell suspensions approach yielded the most insecticidal and R. ferrugineus-inhibitory volatile secondary metabolites. After inoculation with Verticillium dahliae as an activator, the growth kinetics were measured, and the extract was identified using [...] Read more.
Our study’s overarching goal was to determine which O. basilicum cell suspensions approach yielded the most insecticidal and R. ferrugineus-inhibitory volatile secondary metabolites. After inoculation with Verticillium dahliae as an activator, the growth kinetics were measured, and the extract was identified using GC-MS. Validation was achieved for the insecticidal efficacy of a volatile extract, the pure phenolic content against larva and adult R. ferrugineus, and the inhibitory effect on proteases (in vivo and in vitro). The volatile extract achieved an LC50 of 1229 µg/mL and an LD50 of 13.8 µg/larva. The LC50 values for β-bergamotene, α-eudesmol, β-farnesene, linalool, 1,8-cineole, eugenol, α-guaiene, and β-caryophyllene were 1294, 1312, 1356, 1398, 1426, 1459, 1491, and 1523 g/mL, respectively. The LD50 activities of α-eudesmol, linalool, 1,8-cineole, eugenol, and nerol were 12.4, 13.7, 13.9, 14.2, and 15.6 g/larva, respectively. Active volatile extract of O. basilicum inhibited trypsin proteinase, elastase, cysteine, overall protease, and metalloprotease activity with IC50 values of 89.4, 101.7, 394.7, 112.4, and 535.2 µg/mL and 178.5, 192.4, 547.3, 208.3, and 924.8 µg/mL, in vitro and in vivo, respectively. There was evidence of action against total proteases (in vitro) with IC50 values of 78.9, 81.2, 88.6, 90.7, 91.5, 97.6, 107.4, and 176.3 µg/mL for β-bergamotene, α-eudesmol, β-farnesene, linalool, 1,8-cineole, eugenol, α-guaiene, and β-caryophyllene, respectively. Total proteases (in vivo) are inhibited by the α-eudesmol, linalool, 1,8-cineole, eugenol, nerol, and (E)-β-ocimene, with IC50 values of 162.3, 192.7, 193.1, 201.4, 248.6, and 273.2 µg/mL, respectively. ADMET and molecular docking modeling were the only two methods used to conduct in-depth computational analyses of compounds. The study recommended using an efficient cell suspension method to produce a volatile extract rich in useful secondary metabolites that may be utilized as a bio-insecticide. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant-Insect Interactions)
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21 pages, 989 KiB  
Article
Microhabitat and Pollinator Differentiation Drive Reproductive Isolation between Two Sympatric Salvia Species (Lamiaceae)
by Tial C. Ling, Patcharin Phokasem, Chainarong Sinpoo, Yong-Ping Yang and Terd Disayathanoowat
Plants 2022, 11(18), 2423; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11182423 - 16 Sep 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2103
Abstract
Evaluation of multiple barriers contributing to reproductive isolation between sympatric plant species is key to understanding the mechanism of their coexistence; however, such investigations in biodiversity hotspots are still rare. In this study, we investigated and compared geography, microhabitat, phenology, flora, and pollinators, [...] Read more.
Evaluation of multiple barriers contributing to reproductive isolation between sympatric plant species is key to understanding the mechanism of their coexistence; however, such investigations in biodiversity hotspots are still rare. In this study, we investigated and compared geography, microhabitat, phenology, flora, and pollinators, in addition to pollen–pistil interactions, seed production, and seed germination of the closely related sympatric Salvia digitaloides and S. flava on Yulong Snow Mountain, Southwestern Yunnan, China. The geographic distribution of these species overlapped, but their adaptation to physical and chemical properties of soil microhabitats differed. They shared the same flowering time but differed in flower size, style length, nectar volume, sugar concentration, and flower longevity. Both species shared bumblebees as effective pollinators, but flower constancy for the two species was relatively strong. Pollen tube growth, seed production, and seed germination were lower in interspecific than in intraspecific crosses. Our study suggested that microhabitat and pollinator isolation acted as the most important isolating barriers in maintaining the coexistence of the two Salvia species. Our study also highlighted that post-pollination barriers play an important role in preventing the gene flow between these two Salvia species. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant-Insect Interactions)
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18 pages, 33817 KiB  
Article
Plant Volatiles and Herbivore Induced Plant Volatiles from Chili Pepper Act as Attractant of the Aphid Parasitoid Aphelinus varipes (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae)
by Muhammad Yasir Ali, Tayyaba Naseem, Jinping Zhang, Mingzhen Pan, Feng Zhang and Tong-Xian Liu
Plants 2022, 11(10), 1350; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11101350 - 19 May 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3516
Abstract
Plants have evolved a number of different chemical defenses, covering nearly all classes of (secondary) metabolites, that represent a major barrier to herbivory: some are constitutive; others are induced after attacks from herbivores (HIPVs) and may elicit the attraction of predators and parasitoids. [...] Read more.
Plants have evolved a number of different chemical defenses, covering nearly all classes of (secondary) metabolites, that represent a major barrier to herbivory: some are constitutive; others are induced after attacks from herbivores (HIPVs) and may elicit the attraction of predators and parasitoids. Here, we studied how the female solitary endoparasitoid Aphelinus varipes responds to plant and host aphid volatiles in a series of experiments on five commercially important vegetables that were either healthy or infested with the aphid Myzus persicae: chili pepper, eggplant, crown daisy, Chinese cabbage and cabbage. The results for the olfactory responses of A. varipes showed that the presence of M. persicae increased the attraction of the endoparasitoid to the infested plants. In a second experiment, volatiles from highly attractive and repellent plants were obtained via headspace collection to investigate volatiles from healthy and aphid-damaged plants. The results for the differences in volatile profiles in response to aphid infestation in chili pepper cultivar were dominated by the volatile blends, including α-pinene, decanal and phthalic acid, while in cabbage they were dominated by isophorone. Moreover, when HIPVs with different concentrations were compared, α-pinene at a dose rate of 100 ng/μL attracted more parasitoids, and the comparison was useful to understand the mechanisms of plant secondary volatiles during aphid infestation and to provide new resources to control this insect pest. Overall our study shows how HIPVs can bolster tritrophic interactions by enhancing the attractiveness of parasitoids. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant-Insect Interactions)
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12 pages, 3359 KiB  
Article
Binding Properties of Odorant-Binding Protein 4 of Tirathaba rufivena to Areca catechu Volatiles
by Xiang Zhou, Zheng Wang, Guangchao Cui, Zimeng Du, Yunlong Qian, Shumei Yang, Minghui Liu and Jixing Guo
Plants 2022, 11(2), 167; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11020167 - 9 Jan 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2141
Abstract
Odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) play a key role in the olfactory system and are essential for mating and oviposition host selection. Tirathaba rufivena, a serious lepidopterous insect pest of the palm area in recent years, has threatened cultivations of Areca catechu in Hainan. [...] Read more.
Odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) play a key role in the olfactory system and are essential for mating and oviposition host selection. Tirathaba rufivena, a serious lepidopterous insect pest of the palm area in recent years, has threatened cultivations of Areca catechu in Hainan. Female-biased odorant-binding protein 4 of T. rufivena (TrufOBP4) expression was hypothesized to participate in the process of oviposition host recognition and localization. In this study, we cloned and analyzed the cDNA sequence of TrufOBP4. The predicted mature protein TrufOBP4 is a small, soluble, secretory protein and belongs to a classic OBP subfamily. Fluorescence binding assay results showed that TrufOBP4 had high binding abilities with the host plant volatiles, octyl methoxycinnamate, dibutyl phthalate, myristic acid and palmitic acid. These four components tend to dock in the same binding pocket based on the molecular docking result. The interactions and contributions of key amino acid residues were also characterized. This research provides evidence that TrufOBP4 might participate in the chemoreception of volatile compounds from inflorescences of A. catechu and can contribute to the integrated management of T. rufivena. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant-Insect Interactions)
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18 pages, 4805 KiB  
Article
Characterization of the Insect Assemblage and Associated Floral Volatiles of Black Cherry (Prunus serotina)
by Craig Larcenaire, Fumin Wang, Ida Holásková, Richard Turcotte, Michael Gutensohn and Yong-Lak Park
Plants 2021, 10(10), 2195; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10102195 - 15 Oct 2021
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3343
Abstract
Black cherry is an ecologically important high-value wood. A decline of its regeneration has been reported in the USA, which could be associated with a lack of pollination. This study was conducted to identify insects visiting black cherry flowers, to determine whether insects [...] Read more.
Black cherry is an ecologically important high-value wood. A decline of its regeneration has been reported in the USA, which could be associated with a lack of pollination. This study was conducted to identify insects visiting black cherry flowers, to determine whether insects captured on the flowers carry black cherry pollen and to identify the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by flowers of black cherry. A two-year insect survey was conducted before, during and after the black cherry bloom. A total of 9533 insects were captured in traps and Diptera was the most abundant (64.1%). Significantly more insects in Diptera, Lepidoptera and Thysanoptera were captured in the traps installed in the canopy than those on the ground, and Anthalia bulbosa (Diptera: Hybotidae) was the dominant species. Electron microscopy analyses demonstrated that insects captured in the canopy indeed carried black cherry pollen. Black cherry flowers emitted a VOC blend that is composed of 34 compounds and dominated by β-ocimene and several phenylpropanoids/benzenoids. This floral VOC profile is similar to that of other pollinator-dependent Prunus species. This study reports pollinator insects and associated VOCs, for the first time, that could play a significant role in the pollination and regeneration of black cherry. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant-Insect Interactions)
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