semiochemicals
Semiochemicals are signaling molecules that organisms release to influence the behavior of others, encompassing both communication within a species and interactions across different species. In plant science, these chemical cues are central to understanding how plants attract pollinators, deter herbivores, and recruit beneficial insects that prey on pests. Studying semiochemicals also informs the development of eco-friendly pest management strategies that exploit natural chemical signaling instead of synthetic pesticides.
open_in_new WikipediaPubMed · 2026-07-01
Scientists identified the scent receptor that makes mated yellow peach moths avoid laying eggs on plants releasing certain green leaf volatiles. CRISPR knockout experiments confirmed this receptor is the key molecular switch, pointing toward volatile-based deterrents as a new tool for managing this fruit- and corn-boring pest.
CpunIR75q1 is specifically upregulated in mated females, directly linking reproductive state to enhanced olfactory sensitivity for plant volatiles.
The receptor complex responds strongly to two green leaf volatiles, trans-2-hexen-1-ol and trans-2-hexenoic acid, both common plant-damage signals.
CRISPR/Cas9 knockout of CpunIR75q1 abolished oviposition avoidance behavior in mated females, confirming it as the essential molecular switch.
