Feeding Preferences and Salivary Protein Profiles of Spodoptera frugiperda on Saccharum Species

Abstract

The invasion of the fall armyworm poses substantial threats to local agricultural safety, including the sugarcane industry. Exploring the insect-resistance mechanism is crucial for breeding resistant varieties. This study selected three representative materials from the Saccharum genus─Saccharum officinarum L. (Badila), S. spp. hybrid (GT58), and Saccharum spontaneum (SES208), to investigate feeding preferences and developmental fitness of Spodoptera frugiperda. Larvae exhibited a strong preference and highest fitness parameters in Badila leaves compared to SES208. Additionally, proteomic analyses of larval saliva from insects feeding on Badila and SES208 were carried out to test the types and abundance of proteins on different hosts. Furthermore, we identified fatty acid-binding protein 1-like activates plant defense responses, while aldehyde dehydrogenase negatively suppressed plant defense response. Our findings suggest that the plasticity of salivary proteins induced by different host plants, and also offer new insights into the molecular interactions between S. frugiperda and plants.