Three Closely Related Spodoptera Species Similarly Affect Gene Expression and Phytohormone Levels but Differentially Induce Volatile Emissions in Maize.
Ye W, Dias SL, Mamin M, Arce CCM, Turlings TCJ
Plant Signaling
Armyworms devastate corn crops worldwide, and this research reveals exactly how the worst offender — the fall armyworm — secretly dampens the plant's ability to call for help, pointing toward new ways to make corn fight back harder.
When caterpillars chew on corn, they leave behind saliva that the plant detects as a danger signal. Scientists found that corn responds strongly to the saliva of three related armyworm species, turning on defense genes and releasing protective chemicals. But the fall armyworm — which evolved specifically to attack corn — tricks the plant into producing fewer airborne alarm signals, suggesting it has learned to partially silence one of corn's key distress calls.
Key Findings
All three Spodoptera armyworm species triggered significant increases in phytohormone levels and defense gene expression in maize, indicating a broadly conserved plant immune response.
Despite similar internal hormone and gene responses, volatile emissions (airborne defense signals) were considerably lower when plants were treated with fall armyworm (S. frugiperda) secretions compared to beet armyworm and cotton leafworm.
The fall armyworm, a maize specialist, induced greater transcriptome-wide changes than the other two species, suggesting deeper co-evolutionary manipulation of the host plant's signaling pathways.
chevron_right Technical Summary
Corn plants respond to caterpillar saliva by ramping up chemical defenses, but the type of response varies by species — even among closely related armyworms. The fall armyworm, a corn specialist, suppresses the plant's airborne distress signals while still triggering strong internal defense changes.
Abstract Preview
Plants can perceive specific elicitors in the oral secretions (OS) of herbivorous insects and respond by increasing their defences. Whether plants can discriminate among similar herbivorous insect ...
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Maize, also known as corn in North American English, is a tall stout grass that produces cereal grain. The leafy stalk of the plant gives rise to male inflorescences or tassels which produce pollen, and female inflorescences called ears. The ears yield grain, known as kernels or seeds. In modern ...