| Title: | Biosynthesis and function of terpenoid defense compounds in maize (Zea mays) |
| Author(s): | Block AK; Vaughan MM; Schmelz EA; Christensen SA; |
| Address: | "Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology, U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, 1700 SW 23rd Drive, Gainesville, FL, 32608, USA. anna.block@ars.usda.gov. National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research, U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, 1815 N. University Street, Peoria, IL, 61604, USA. Section of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA. Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology, U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, 1700 SW 23rd Drive, Gainesville, FL, 32608, USA" |
| DOI: | 10.1007/s00425-018-2999-2 |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 1432-2048 (Electronic) 0032-0935 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "Maize produces an array of herbivore-induced terpene volatiles that attract parasitoids to infested plants and a suite of pathogen-induced non-volatile terpenoids with antimicrobial activity to defend against pests. Plants rely on complex blends of constitutive and dynamically produced specialized metabolites to mediate beneficial ecological interactions and protect against biotic attack. One such class of metabolites are terpenoids, a large and structurally diverse class of molecules shown to play significant defensive and developmental roles in numerous plant species. Despite this, terpenoids have only recently been recognized as significant contributors to pest resistance in maize (Zea mays), a globally important agricultural crop. The current review details recent advances in our understanding of biochemical structures, pathways and functional roles of maize terpenoids. Dependent upon the lines examined, maize can harbor more than 30 terpene synthases, underlying the inherent diversity of maize terpene defense systems. Part of this defensive arsenal is the inducible production of volatile bouquets that include monoterpenes, homoterpenes and sesquiterpenes, which often function in indirect defense by enabling the attraction of parasitoids and predators. More recently discovered are a subset of sesquiterpene and diterpene hydrocarbon olefins modified by cytochrome P450s to produce non-volatile end-products such kauralexins, zealexins, dolabralexins and beta-costic acid. These non-volatile terpenoid phytoalexins often provide effective defense against both microbial and insect pests via direct antimicrobial and anti-feedant activity. The diversity and promiscuity of maize terpene synthases, coupled with a variety of secondary modifications, results in elaborate defensive layers whose identities, regulation and precise functions are continuing to be elucidated" |
| Keywords: | "Animals Gene Expression Regulation, Plant Insecta/pathogenicity Plant Diseases/parasitology Sesquiterpenes/metabolism Terpenes/*metabolism Zea mays/*metabolism/*parasitology Phytoalexins Corn Insect Pathogen Terpenes Volatiles;" |
| Notes: | "MedlineBlock, Anna K Vaughan, Martha M Schmelz, Eric A Christensen, Shawn A eng 6036-11210-001-00D/Agricultural Research Service/ 5010-42000-048-00-D/Agricultural Research Service/ 2018-51181-28419/National Institute of Food and Agriculture/ Review Germany 2018/09/07 Planta. 2019 Jan; 249(1):21-30. doi: 10.1007/s00425-018-2999-2. Epub 2018 Sep 6" |
