Molecular interaction network of plant-herbivorous insects

Abstract

The interactions between plants and herbivorous insects are complex and involve multiple factors, driving species formation and leading to the beginning of co-evolution and diversification of plant and insect molecules. Various molecular processes regulate the interactions between plants and herbivorous insects. Here, we discuss the molecular patterns of plant perception of herbivorous insect feeding through activation of early signaling components, crosstalk of plant defense network composed of multiple plant hormones, and various adaptive changes in insect responses to plant defenses. Both plant defenses and insect counter-defenses are molecular adaptation processes to each other. Molecular models of plant-herbivorous insect interactions can more intuitively help us to understand the co-evolutionary arms race between plants and herbivorous insects. These results will provide detailed evidence to elucidate and enrich the interaction network of plant-herbivorous insects.