A5003059316- Insect-Plant Interactions and Control
- Plant Parasitism and Resistance
- Plant and animal studies
- Allelopathy and phytotoxic interactions
- Insect and Pesticide Research
- Insect Pest Control Strategies
- Insect Resistance and Genetics
- Entomopathogenic Microorganisms in Pest Control
- Plant biochemistry and biosynthesis
- Nematode management and characterization studies
- Plant-Microbe Interactions and Immunity
- Weed Control and Herbicide Applications
- Plant Stress Responses and Tolerance
- Forest Insect Ecology and Management
- Plant Virus Research Studies
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Insect symbiosis and bacterial influences
- Plant responses to elevated CO2
- Legume Nitrogen Fixing Symbiosis
- Plant nutrient uptake and metabolism
- Plant Molecular Biology Research
- Biological Control of Invasive Species
- Essential Oils and Antimicrobial Activity
- Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies
- Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics
University of Bern
2016-2025
Institute of Plant Biology
2015-2024
Oeschger Centre for Climate Change Research
2018-2021
University of Neuchâtel
2008-2020
University of California, Davis
2020
Zhejiang University
2011-2020
Plant (United States)
2019
Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology
2008-2018
McMaster University
2016
Max Planck Society
2012-2014
Abstract By changing soil properties, plants can modify their growth environment. Although the microbiota is known to play a key role in resulting plant-soil feedbacks, proximal mechanisms underlying this phenomenon remain unknown. We found that benzoxazinoids, class of defensive secondary metabolites are released by roots cereals such as wheat and maize, alter root-associated fungal bacterial communities, decrease plant growth, increase jasmonate signaling defenses, suppress herbivore...
Abstract Herbivore-induced volatile organic compounds prime non-attacked plant tissues to respond more strongly subsequent attacks. However, the key volatiles that trigger this primed state remain largely unidentified. In maize, release of aromatic compound indole is herbivore-specific and occurs earlier than other induced responses. We therefore hypothesized may be involved in airborne priming. Using indole-deficient mutants synthetic dispensers, we show herbivore-induced enhances induction...
Benzoxazinoids (BXs), such as 2,4-dihydroxy-7-methoxy-2H-1,4-benzoxazin-3(4H)-one (DIMBOA), are secondary metabolites in grasses. The first step BX biosynthesis converts indole-3-glycerol phosphate into indole. In maize (Zea mays), this reaction is catalyzed by either BENZOXAZINELESS1 (BX1) or INDOLE GLYCEROL PHOSPHATE LYASE (IGL). Bx1 gene under developmental control and mainly responsible for production, whereas the Igl inducible stress signals, wounding, herbivory, jasmonates. To...
Abstract Plants differ greatly in their susceptibility to insect herbivory, suggesting both local adaptation and resistance tradeoffs. We used maize (Zea mays) recombinant inbred lines map a quantitative trait locus (QTL) for the leaf aphid (Rhopalosiphum maidis) Chromosome 1. Phytochemical analysis revealed that same was also associated with high levels of 2-hydroxy-4,7-dimethoxy-1,4-benzoxazin-3-one glucoside (HDMBOA-Glc) low 2,4-dihydroxy-7-methoxy-1,4-benzoxazin-3-one (DIMBOA-Glc). In...
Plants activate local and systemic defence mechanisms upon exposure to stress. This innate immune response is partially regulated by plant hormones, involves the accumulation of defensive metabolites. Although reactions herbivores are well studied, less known about impact root herbivory on shoot defence. Here, we examined effects belowground infestation western corn rootworm Diabrotica virgifera aboveground resistance in maize. Belowground D. v. induced against generalist herbivore...
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released by soil microorganisms influence plant growth and pathogen resistance. Yet, very little is known about their on herbivores higher trophic levels. We studied the origin role of a major bacterial VOC, 2,3-butanediol (2,3-BD), growth, herbivore resistance, attraction natural enemies in maize. One contributors to 2,3-BD headspace soil-grown maize seedlings was identified as Enterobacter aerogenes, an endophytic bacterium that colonizes plants. The...
In monocotyledonous plants, 1,4-benzoxazin-3-ones, also referred to as benzoxazinoids or hydroxamic acids, are one of the most important chemical barriers against herbivores. However, knowledge about their behavior after attack, mode action and potential detoxification by specialized insects remains limited. We chose an innovative analytical approach understand role maize 1,4-benzoxazin-3-ones in plant-insect interactions. By combining unbiased metabolomics screening simultaneous...
Fatty acid derivatives are of central importance for plant immunity against insect herbivores; however, major regulatory genes and the signals that modulate these defense metabolites vastly understudied, especially in important agro-economic monocot species. Here we show products derived from a single Zea mays (maize) lipoxygenase (LOX), ZmLOX10, critical both direct indirect defenses to herbivory. We provide genetic evidence two 13-LOXs, ZmLOX10 ZmLOX8, specialize providing substrate green...
Insect-induced defenses occur in nearly all plants and are regulated by conserved signaling pathways. As the first described plant peptide signal, systemin regulates antiherbivore Solanaceae, but other families, peptides with analogous activity have remained elusive. In current study, we demonstrate that a member of maize (Zea mays) elicitor (Pep) family, ZmPep3, responses against herbivores. Consistent being expression ZmPROPEP3 precursor gene is rapidly induced Spodoptera exigua oral...
The jasmonic acid (JA) pathway plays a central role in plant defense responses against insects. Some phloem-feeding insects also induce the salicylic (SA) pathway, thereby suppressing plant's JA response. These phenomena have been well studied dicotyledonous plants, but little is known about them monocotyledons. We cloned chloroplast-localized type 2 13-lipoxygenase gene of rice, OsHI-LOX, whose transcripts were up-regulated response to feeding by rice striped stem borer (SSB) Chilo...
Abstract In response to insect attack, plants release complex blends of volatile compounds. These volatiles serve as foraging cues for herbivores, predators and parasitoids, leading plant‐mediated interactions within between trophic levels. Hence, plant may be important determinants community composition. To test this, we created rice lines that are impaired in the emission two major signals, S‐ linalool ( E )‐β‐caryophyllene. We found inducible attracted parasitoids well chewing but...
Summary 1. Induced changes in plant quality can mediate indirect interactions between herbivores. Although the sequence of attack by different herbivores has been shown to influence responses, little is known about how this affects themselves. 2. We therefore investigated induction leaf herbivore Spodoptera frugiperda influences resistance teosinte ( Zea mays mexicana) and cultivated maize (Zea mays) against root‐feeding larvae Diabrotica virgifera . The importance arrival was tested field...
• In response to herbivore attack, plants mobilize chemical defenses and release distinct bouquets of volatiles. Aboveground herbivores are known use changes in leaf volatile patterns make foraging decisions, but it remains unclear whether belowground also volatiles select suitable host plants. We therefore investigated how above- infestation affects the performance root feeder Diabrotica virgifera virgifera, larvae this specialized beetle able cues assess from a distance potential plant is...
Ecology Letters (2011) 14 : 55–64 Abstract The most valuable organs of plants are often particularly rich in essential elements, but also very well defended. This creates a dilemma for herbivores that need to maximise energy intake while minimising intoxication. We investigated how the specialist root herbivore Diabrotica virgifera solves this conundrum when feeding on wild and cultivated maize plants. found crown roots seedlings were vital plant development and, accordance, nutritious...
Herbivore attack leads to resource conflicts between plant defensive strategies. Photoassimilates are required for compounds and carbon storage below ground may therefore be depleted or enriched in the roots of herbivore-defoliated plants. The potential role belowground tissues as mediators induced tolerance-defense trade-offs is unknown. We evaluated signaling carbohydrate dynamics Nicotiana attenuata following Manduca sexta attack. Experimental natural genetic variability was exploited...
Plants respond to herbivory by reprogramming their metabolism. Most research in this context has focused on locally induced compounds that function as toxins or feeding deterrents. We developed an ultra-high-pressure liquid chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-TOF-MS)-based metabolomics approach evaluate local and systemic herbivore-induced changes maize leaves, sap, roots root exudates without any prior assumptions about function. Thirty-two differentially regulated were...
Ethylene responsive factors (ERFs) are a large family of plant-specific transcription that involved in the regulation plant development and stress responses. However, little to nothing is known about their role herbivore-induced defense. We discovered nucleus-localized ERF gene rice (Oryza sativa), OsERF3, was rapidly up-regulated response feeding by striped stem borer (SSB) Chilo suppressalis. Antisense over-expression OsERF3 revealed it positively affects transcript levels two...
Plants generally respond to herbivore attack by increasing resistance and decreasing growth. This prioritization is achieved through the regulation of phytohormonal signaling networks. However, it remains unknown how this affects against non-target herbivores. In study, we identify WRKY70 as a specific herbivore-induced, mitogen-activated protein kinase-regulated rice transcription factor that physically interacts with W-box motifs prioritizes defence over growth positively regulating...