A5078722409- Insect-Plant Interactions and Control
- Plant Parasitism and Resistance
- Plant and animal studies
- Insect and Pesticide Research
- Insect Pest Control Strategies
- Forest Insect Ecology and Management
- Insect symbiosis and bacterial influences
- Fermentation and Sensory Analysis
- Chromatography in Natural Products
- Entomological Studies and Ecology
- Analytical Chemistry and Chromatography
- Mosquito-borne diseases and control
- Malaria Research and Control
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Insect behavior and control techniques
- Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research
- Animal and Plant Science Education
- Olfactory and Sensory Function Studies
- Advanced Chemical Sensor Technologies
- Light effects on plants
- Global Peace and Security Dynamics
- Cocoa and Sweet Potato Agronomy
- Insect Pheromone Research and Control
- Wine Industry and Tourism
- Genomics, phytochemicals, and oxidative stress
Wageningen University & Research
2013-2025
Institute of Entomology
2015
Stellenbosch University
2007-2011
A pathogen may cause infected plants to promote the performance of its transmitting vector, which accelerates spread pathogen. This positive effect a on vector via their shared host plant is termed indirect mutualism. For example, terpene biosynthesis suppressed in begomovirus-infected plants, leading reduced resistance and enhanced whiteflies (Bemisia tabaci) that transmit these viruses. Although begomovirus-whitefly mutualism has been known, underlying mechanism still elusive. Here, we...
Plants respond to herbivory with the emission of induced plant volatiles. These volatiles may attract parasitic wasps (parasitoids) that attack herbivores. Although in this sense has been hypothesized be beneficial plant, it is still debated whether also case under natural conditions because other organisms such as herbivores emitted One important group organisms, enemies parasitoids, hyperparasitoids, not included debate little known about their foraging behaviour. Here, we address...
Plants release volatiles induced by herbivore feeding that may affect the diversity and composition of plant-associated arthropod communities. However, specificity role plant during early phase attack, i.e. egg deposition herbivorous insects, their consequences on insects different trophic levels remain poorly explored. In olfactometer wind tunnel set-ups, we investigated behavioural responses a specialist cabbage butterfly (Pieris brassicae) two its parasitic wasps (Trichogramma brassicae...
Beneficial soil-borne microbes, such as mycorrhizal fungi or rhizobacteria, can affect the interactions of plants with aboveground insects at several trophic levels. While mechanisms herbivorous insects, that is, second level, are starting to be understood, it remains unknown how mediate between soil microbes and carnivorous third level. Using Arabidopsis thaliana Col-0 aphid Myzus persicae, we evaluate here underlying involved in plant-mediated interaction non-pathogenic rhizobacterium...
Plants respond to insect attack by releasing blends of volatile chemicals that attract their herbivores' specific natural enemies, while herbivores may carry endosymbiotic microorganisms directly improve herbivore survival after enemy attack. Here we demonstrate the two phenomena can be linked. fed upon pea aphids release volatiles parasitic wasps, and aphid facultative bacteria prevent development wasp larva thus markedly We show these endosymbionts also attenuate systemic plants attack,...
Beneficial root-associated microbes modify the physiological status of their host plants and affect direct indirect plant defense against insect herbivores. While effects these on herbivores are well described, knowledge effect is still limited. In this study, we evaluate role rhizobacterium Pseudomonas fluorescens WCS417r in generalist leaf-chewing Mamestra brassicae through a combination behavioral, chemical, gene-transcriptional approaches. We show that rhizobacterial colonization...
The cabbage aphid Brevicoryne brassicae is a specialist herbivore that sequesters glucosinolates from its host plant as defense against predators. It unknown to what extent parasitoids are affected by this sequestration. We investigated herbivore-mediated effects of on the parasitoid wasp Diaeretiella rapae and predator Episyrphus balteatus. reared B. three ecotypes Arabidopsis thaliana differ in glucosinolate content one genetically transformed line with modified concentrations aliphatic...
Summary The effects of plant competition for light on the emission volatile organic compounds ( VOC s) were studied by investigating how different qualities that occur in dense vegetation affect constitutive and methyl‐jasmonate‐induced s. A rabidopsis thaliana Columbia C ol‐0) plants P ieris brassicae caterpillars used as a biological system to study quality manipulations emissions attraction herbivores. s analysed using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry quality, notably red : far ratio...
Summary Chemical communication is ubiquitous. The identification of conserved structural elements in visual and acoustic well established, but comparable information on chemical displays (CCDs) lacking. We assessed the phenotypic integration CCDs a meta‐analysis to characterize patterns covariation identified functional or biosynthetically constrained modules. Poorly integrated plant (i.e. low between scent compounds) support notion that plants often utilize one few key compounds repel...
Plants respond to herbivory with the emission of plant volatiles, which can be used by herbivores' natural enemies locate their hosts or prey. In nature, plants are often simultaneously confronted insect herbivores and phytopathogens, potentially interfering attraction as a result modifications induced volatile blend. Here, we investigated parasitoid (Cotesia glomerata) volatiles challenged different attackers, either alone in combination Pieris brassicae caterpillars, C. glomerata. We...
Plants release a variety of volatile organic compounds that play multiple roles in the interactions with other plants and animals. Natural enemies plant-feeding insects use these volatiles as cues to find their prey or host. Here, we report differences between blends tomato infested whitefly Bemisia tabaci borer Tuta absoluta. We compared emission of: (1) clean plants; (2) T. absoluta larvae; (3) B. adults, nymphs, eggs. A total 80 were recorded which 10 occurred consistently only headspace...
Summary Under conditions of competition for light, which lead to the inactivation photoreceptor phytochrome B (phyB), growth shade‐intolerant plants is promoted and accumulation direct anti‐herbivore defenses down‐regulated. Little known about effects phyB on emissions volatile organic compounds (VOCs), play a major role as informational cues in indirect defense. We investigated tomato ( Solanum lycopersicum ) using two complementary approaches inactivate phyB: illumination with low red...
Significance Symbiotic relationships benefit organisms in utilization of new niches. In parasitoid wasps, symbiotic viruses and venom that are injected together with wasp eggs into the host caterpillar suppress immune responses enhance survival. We found virus also has negative effects on offspring survival when placing these interactions a community context. The drive chain includes herbivore its food plant attracts hyperparasitoid enemies parasitoid. Our results shed light importance...
Mosquitoes display biting preferences among different sites of the human body. In addition to height or convection currents, body odour may play a role in selection these sites. Previous studies have shown that skin emanations are important host-finding cues for mosquitoes. this study, were collected from armpits, hands and feet; volatile profiles analysed tested their attractiveness malaria mosquito Anopheles coluzzii. Skin armpits less attractive An. coluzzii compared or/and feet. The...
Foraging success of predators profoundly depends on reliable and detectable cues indicating the presence their often inconspicuous prey. Carnivorous insects rely chemical to optimize foraging efficiency. Hyperparasitoids that lay eggs in larvae or pupae parasitic wasps may find parasitoid hosts developing different herbivores. They can use herbivore-induced plant volatiles (HIPVs) locate parasitized caterpillars. Because herbivore species induce HIPV emission from plants, hyperparasitoids...
Microorganisms living in and on macroorganisms may produce microbial volatile compounds (mVOCs) that characterise organismal odours. The mVOCs might thereby provide a reliable cue to carnivorous enemies locating their host or prey. Parasitism by parasitoid wasps alter the microbiome of caterpillar host, affecting odours interactions with insects higher trophic levels such as hyperparasitoids. Hyperparasitoids parasitise larvae pupae parasitoids, which are often concealed inconspicuous....
Evolutionary ecological theory predicts that among insect herbivores ‘mothers know best’ when selecting a plant to deposit their eggs. Host‐plant selection is usually studied for the adult stage exclusively, although mothers have not always been reported best. Here, we investigate host‐plant behaviour of caterpillars, which are considered be completely dependent on mothers’ choices. We use system offers biologically relevant framework compare degree participation adults and juveniles in...
Most insect-resistant transgenic crops employ toxins to control pests. A novel approach is enhance the effectiveness of natural enemies by genetic engineering biosynthesis volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Before commercialisation such plants can be pursued, detailed fundamental studies their effects on herbivores and are necessary. The linalool/nerolidol synthase gene FaNES1 was constitutively expressed from strawberry in three Arabidopsis thaliana accessions, behaviour aphid Brevicoryne...
Summary The effects of multiple insect attacks on herbivore‐induced plant volatiles and carnivorous arthropods are increasingly studied. Phytopathogens also represent an important threat to plants, defence strategies against pathogens insects strongly interconnected, yet the potential impact insect‐induced has been largely overlooked, degree pathogenicity is rarely considered. We investigated how pathogen challenge, with virulent avirulent strains Xanthomonas campestris either alone or...