Title: | Identification of an insect-produced olfactory cue that primes plant defenses |
Author(s): | Helms AM; De Moraes CM; Troger A; Alborn HT; Francke W; Tooker JF; Mescher MC; |
Address: | "Center for Chemical Ecology, Department of Entomology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA. Department of Environmental Systems Science, ETH Zurich, 8092, Zurich, Switzerland. Institute for Organic Chemistry, University of Hamburg, 20146, Hamburg, Germany. Chemistry Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Gainesville, FL, 32608, USA. Department of Environmental Systems Science, ETH Zurich, 8092, Zurich, Switzerland. mescher@usys.ethz.ch" |
DOI: | 10.1038/s41467-017-00335-8 |
ISSN/ISBN: | 2041-1723 (Electronic) 2041-1723 (Linking) |
Abstract: | "It is increasingly clear that plants perceive and respond to olfactory cues. Yet, knowledge about the specificity and sensitivity of such perception remains limited. We previously documented priming of anti-herbivore defenses in tall goldenrod plants (Solidago altissima) by volatile emissions from a specialist herbivore, the goldenrod gall fly (Eurosta solidaginis). Here, we explore the specific chemical cues mediating this interaction. We report that E,S-conophthorin, the most abundant component of the emission of male flies, elicits a priming response equivalent to that observed for the overall blend. Furthermore, while the strength of priming is dose dependent, plants respond even to very low concentrations of E,S-conophthorin relative to typical fly emissions. Evaluation of other blend components yields results consistent with the hypothesis that priming in this interaction is mediated by a single compound. These findings provide insights into the perceptual capabilities underlying plant defense priming in response to olfactory cues.Plants are able to prime anti-herbivore defenses in response to olfactory cues of insect pests. Here, Helms et al. identify the insect pheromone E,S-conophthorin produced by the goldenrod gall fly as the specific chemical component that elicits this priming response in goldenrod plants" |
Keywords: | Animals *Cues Herbivory/physiology Host-Parasite Interactions Male Olfactory Bulb/*physiology Pheromones/chemistry Solidago/*parasitology Spiro Compounds/chemistry Tephritidae/*physiology Volatile Organic Compounds/chemistry; |
Notes: | "MedlineHelms, Anjel M De Moraes, Consuelo M Troger, Armin Alborn, Hans T Francke, Wittko Tooker, John F Mescher, Mark C eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. England 2017/08/25 Nat Commun. 2017 Aug 24; 8(1):337. doi: 10.1038/s41467-017-00335-8" |