Shared fungal signals steer corn borers across related grass crops
Gallan DZ, Penteriche AB, Auler PA, Veronez GR, Henrique MO
Plant Signaling
Corn, sugarcane, rice, and wheat share a chemical alarm system that a common soil fungus can exploit to steer the stem-boring insects that damage them, meaning a defense insight discovered in one crop could translate directly to the others that feed billions of people.
When a fungus infects a corn plant, it releases airborne chemicals that change how the corn borer caterpillar behaves on and around the plant. Researchers found that this three-way conversation among plant, fungus, and insect follows rules shared across several related crops, including sugarcane, rice, and wheat. That means a defense strategy discovered in corn might be engineered into other grass crops to reduce pest damage at scale.
Key Findings
A behavioral modulation mechanism was identified in which Fusarium verticillioides volatile compounds reproducibly alter the behavior of the corn borer Diatraea saccharalis, representing a conserved cross-kingdom signaling event.
The mechanism and associated volatile profiles are partially conserved across four Poaceae genera: Zea (corn), Saccharum (sugarcane), Oryza (rice), and Triticum (wheat), indicating a shared multitrophic response architecture across related grass crops.
Two distinct isolates of F. verticillioides produced a common suite of volatile organic compounds, suggesting the fungal chemical outputs driving insect behavior are consistent across pathogen strains, not isolate-specific.
chevron_right Technical Summary
A fungal pathogen that infects corn plants releases airborne chemicals that alter how corn-boring caterpillars behave, and this three-way interaction is partially shared across related grass crops including sugarcane, rice, and wheat. The finding points to a conserved chemical signaling framework connecting plants, fungi, and insects across major food crops, identifying a new target for breeding more resilient grains.
Abstract Preview
Original paper
A behavioral modulation mechanism involving the phytopathogen Fusarium verticillioides and the stem borer Diatraea saccharalis is conserved in maize.
Understanding how plants integrate signals from herbivores and pathogens is essential for improving crop resilience and agricultural sustainability. In maize (Zea mays), the stem borer Diatraea sac...
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