Arthropod-Plant Interactions最新文献

Rapeseed-mustard (Brassica spp.) is a vital oilseed crop in India, frequently affected by the mustard aphid, Lipaphis erysimi (Kaltenbach), a major sap-sucking pest that causes substantial yield losses. Considering the drawbacks of chemical control, host plant resistance offers a sustainable alternative. The present study was conducted under protected conditions to assess the physical basis of resistance in ten rapeseed-mustard genotypes against L. erysimi. Significant genotypic variations were observed in aphid population, percentage of infested siliques, and aphid multiplication rate across crop stages. PM 25, PM 26, and DRMR 150-35 consistently recorded lower aphid infestations and were categorized as resistant, whereas IC 491023 and YST 151 were highly susceptible. Among the physical traits, surface wax content showed a strong negative correlation with aphid infestation and aphid multiplication, suggesting its critical role in resistance. PM 25 exhibited the highest wax content (7.30%), contributing to its superior resistance. The findings indicate that physical traits like surface wax act as a first line of defense by hindering aphid colonization and feeding. This study highlights the potential of integrating such traits into breeding programs, with PM 25 emerging as a promising genotype for developing aphid-resistant varieties.

Phytoestrogens are plant-produced secondary compounds believed to play a protective role against environmental stress. When consumed by animals, phytoestrogens can influence animal health and reproductive function; hence, there is interest in identifying factors that trigger their production in agricultural crops. We conducted two experiments to determine if leaf tissue herbivory by corn earworm (Helicoverpa zea Boddie) induces phytoestrogen accumulation in three clover species commonly utilized as livestock forage. In experiment I, insects were fed on red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) and kura clover (T. ambiguum L.) for 7 days. Herbivory increased total phytoestrogen levels by 112% in red clover, while levels in kura clover were extremely low and not influenced by herbivory. In experiment II, herbivory was applied to two red clover cultivars and one white clover cultivar (T. repens L.) for 9 days followed by a 9-day recovery period or for 18 days without recovery. After 9 days of herbivory and a 9-day recovery period, total phytoestrogen levels in red clover increased by 84%. Compared to the control, there were no differences in total phytoestrogen concentration when herbivory was applied to red clover for 18 days; however, additional sampling revealed concentrations were over 112% higher in undamaged compared to insect damaged tissues. Herbivory did not influence total phytoestrogen concentrations in white clover. These findings highlight the role insect herbivory can play in modifying the phytoestrogen status of red clover, and therefore a potentially novel mechanism by which insect herbivory may indirectly influence agricultural livestock health and reproductive function.

Amaranth is a highly nutritious and medicinal crop with great potential for food security. However, its productivity is severely constrained by insect pests, particularly Spoladea recurvalis. Farmers’ reliance on chemical insecticides for its control poses high risks to human and environmental health. This study therefore explored the potential of fungal endophytes as a sustainable alternative approach in managing S. recurvalis. We screened 15 fungal isolates belonging to six different genera (Trichoderma, Hypocrea, Beauveria, Fusarium, Bionectria and Metarhizium) to assess their potential to endophytically colonize Amaranthus dubius through seed inoculation and determined the systemic induced resistance potential of the endophytes in controlling S. recurvalis. Hypocrea lixii F3ST1 and Trichoderma asperellum M2RT4 successfully colonized all the host seedling parts. Hypocrea lixii F3ST1 and T. asperellum M2RT4 were further investigated for their endophytic persistence, effect on plant growth, pathogenicity to S. recurvalis, and longevity of F1 progenies. Both endophytes remained persistent for the 4-week assessment period with varied colonization rates. The two endophytes significantly improved leaf number, leaf width, leaf length, plant height, and shoot dry weight. Additionally, H. lixii F3ST1 and T. asperellum M2RT4 significantly affected the life-history parameters of S. recurvalis, resulting in reductions in egg masses (5% and 49.8%, respectively; p < 0.001), egg hatchability (7% and 48%, respectively; p < 0.001), increased larval mortality (> 35%), decreased number of pupae (4.9% and 58.4%, respectively; p < 0.001), reduced adult emergence (4.9% and 57.9%, respectively; p < 0.001), and lower survival of F1 progeny. Our findings suggest that H. lixii F3ST1 and T. asperellum M2RT4 may contribute to enhancing amaranth growth promotion and reducing S. recurvalis infestation under controlled conditions. However, further field evaluations are required to validate these effects under practical farming systems.

The vegetable leafminer, Liriomyza sativae Blanchard (Diptera: Agromyzidae), is considered a key pest of melons (Cucumis melo L.) in Brazil. The aim of this study was to identify volatile and phenolic compounds associated with melon resistance to Liriomyza sativae by evaluating whether volatile compounds released by different melon genotypes influence the attractiveness and/or repellency to the pest and by identifying phenolic compounds with potential antibiotic action against it.

Olfactometer tests revealed that certain genotypes, such as CNPH 06-1047-343, 06-1047-333, and 06-1047-341, displayed low attractiveness to L. sativae, while the Goldex commercial hybrid was more attractive. Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry analyses identified acetic acid and 3-methylfuran in higher relative abundance in the less attractive genotypes. On the other hand, attractive and susceptible genotypes emitted higher concentrations of β-ocymene, cis-β-ocymene, and trans-3-hexenyl acetate. Exclusive compounds in Goldex included 3-hexen-1-ol, α-pinene, linalool, allo-ocimene, neo-allo-ocimene, and sabinene hydrate acetate. In no-choice tests, CNPH 06-1047-333 and CNPH 06-1047-343 showed reduced larval and pupal viability of L. sativae, and they were distinguished by having higher total phenolic compounds in their leaves, such as hydroxybenzoic-hexoside acid, ferulic acid, and vitexin-2”-O-glucoside. The study suggests that the resistance of certain melon genotypes to L. sativae is linked to the emission of repellent volatile compounds and the presence of high levels of phenolics in their leaves.

Graphical abstract

Agricultural intensification threatens insect abundance and diversity, even though they provide important ecosystem services such as biological control. This study screened ten annual flowering plant species from Tunisia for their attractiveness to natural enemies and herbivores to identify promising species for flower enhancement within agroecosystems. We conducted a one-year field experiment using a randomized complete block design with three replicates for each species. Arthropods were sampled from the foliage of the tested plants to assess the abundance of natural enemies and pest species present. We identified five species that attracted significantly more natural enemies than others: Anethum graveolens, Diplotaxis harra, Erucaria pinnata, Glebionis segetum, and Pseuderucaria clavata. The most abundant natural enemies were predatory Hemiptera (Anthocoridae), followed by parasitic Hymenoptera, and the dominant herbivores were Thysanoptera (Thripidae). These plant species, which bloom early and provide floral resources throughout the season,should be considered potential insectary plants for future habitat management research.

Dead-end trap cropping is a particular case of trap cropping involving trap crop plants on which targeted insect pests cannot survive. Dead-end trap crops can function as a sink for pests, preventing their movement from the trap crop to the main crop, thus greatly reducing reliance on pesticide applications. Wintercress Barbarea vulgaris Aiton (Brassicaceae) and vetiver grass Chrysopogon zizanioides (L.) Roberty (Poaceae) are among the plant species most-studied as dead-end trap crops for diamondback moth Plutella xylostella L. (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) and the stemborers Chilo partellus Swinhoe (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) and S. inferens Walker (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), respectively. Additional dead-end crops target important pests like cotton bollworm, corn earworm, green peach aphid, western tarnished plant bug, root-knot and root-lesion nematodes, silverleaf whitefly, and different species of fruit flies and thrips. Besides the inherent characteristics of a plant species that make it naturally function as a dead-end trap crop, such as the presence of particular plant secondary metabolites, other types of dead-end trap crops involve the use of transgenesis and the use of biological control agents. This article reviews the topic of dead-end trap cropping, providing also an explanation of some of the mechanisms involved and the factors that affect the successful implementation of this type of trap cropping.

Stingless bees are widely distributed in tropical and subtropical regions, with the greatest diversity reported in the Neotropical biogeographic region, where they provide essential ecological services. The genus Scaptotrigona comprises 51 species, broadly distributed in this region, and is recognized as an abundant floral visitor. Despite their ecological and economic importance, studies on Scaptotrigona have focused mainly on agricultural contexts, leaving knowledge gaps about their broader role in natural ecosystems. Understanding which plant species they visit is particularly relevant for conservation and restoration initiatives, especially in the face of regional bee declines. This review compiles published data on the interactions between Scaptotrigona species and plants, based on a bibliographic survey conducted in four major scientific databases, covering publications available up to July 2023. The records showed interactions between 13 species of the genus Scaptotrigona and plants within their range. In total, 84 plant families were identified, representing 360 genera and 408 species visited, with the most frequently reported families being Fabaceae, Asteraceae, Malvaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Bignoniaceae, Anacardiaceae, Myrtaceae, Arecaceae, Lamiaceae, and Rubiaceae. Although the data do not allow us to directly confirm their role in pollination, the frequency and diversity of visit records indicate a significant ecological potential that deserves further research focused on pollination effectiveness.

Annona senegalensis is a multipurpose wild shrub mainly used for food and traditional medicine by local people in tropical African. During its fruiting period, especially at the green fruit stage, this plant harbors an important community of insects such as various ant species (Formicidae) and the planthopper Hilda undata Walker (Tettigometridae). This study aimed at understanding the role of ants on Annona senegalensis during the fruiting period. Insect visitors of green fruits of Annona senegalensis were collected randomly on 30 green fruits from 30 plants per site, at four sites across the Sudanian and Sudano-Sahelian climatic zones of Burkina Faso, from June to July 2020. The behavior of insects was observed in the field. HPLC analyses of sugar profiles of the extrafloral nectar of green fruits, ants and Hilda undata were carried out in the laboratory to determine whether ants were feeding on green fruit nectar and Hilda undata honeydew. Ants were the most recorded visiting insect group, representing up to 95% of the insects observed on the fruit and the most frequently encountered species were Trichomyrmex abyssinicus Forel, Crematogaster sp., Messor galla Mayr, Brachyponera sennaarensis Mayr and the planthopper Hilda undata. Coleoptera, Diptera, Hemiptera, Hymenoptera and Lepidoptera were recorded. Behavioural observations and HPLC analyses showed that ants consumed extrafloral nectar of green fruits and the Hilda undata honeydew. Ants protect the green fruits and Hilda undata from pests. This study is the first report highlighting mutualistic interactions between Annona senegalensis, ants and Hilda undata.

In this study, the tritrophic interaction between Nilaparvata lugens (Hemiptera: Delphacidae) -Verania lineata (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) – Oryza sativa (Poaceae) across the northern, southern, western, and eastern regions of West Sumatra, Padang, Indonesia was investigated. Phylogenetic analyses (Neighbour-Joining and Maximum Parsimony trees) showed a mixture of individuals from different localities within the same clades. For V. lineata and N. lugens respectively, the nucleotide diversity (π) was (0.00532, 0.00136), nucleotide subdivision (Nst) was (0.04266, 0.00388), and population subdivision (Fst) was (0.0427, 0.00395). The lower values for N. lugens revealed its higher movement compared to V. lineata, despite their separation by mountainous area. A total of 14 haplotypes were detected in V. lineata and 9 in N. lugens, with haplotype diversity (Hd) values of 0.7889 and 0.5977, with Hap1 showing the highest frequency, pest and its predator were suggested that Pesisir Selatan as the primary contributor to begin infestation from the same locality, The rice yield production data showed the lowest from Sijunjung in 2024 (38.56 (quintals/ha)), as it has closer geographical and genetic distances to the Pesisir Selatan, as well as shared the same variety of rice. This observation highlights the need for targeted and prioritized management strategies in that area. These findings provide new insights into the distribution and genetic structure of both species, contributing to the development of targeted management strategies aimed at increasing rice yields in the region.

Human-driven habitat changes reshape ecological networks and threaten critical ecosystem services, such as pollination and biological control. Understanding how different functional groups respond to habitat modification is crucial for designing conservation strategies that sustain ecosystem functionality and are essential for sustainable agriculture. In this study, we evaluated how system type (agroecosystem vs. forest remnant) and functional group (pollinators vs. predators) influence the topology of floral visitor networks. We recorded 631 plant-floral visitor interactions by 33 bee species and 10 social wasp species across 52 plant species. Pollinators maintained consistent interaction frequencies across habitat types, while predators exhibited higher interaction frequencies in the agroecosystem. Networks in agroecosystems exhibited significantly higher nestedness, indicating a dominance of generalist interactions in simplified environments. In contrast, remnant forests supported greater modularity, reflecting more compartmentalized interaction structures. Functional group differences emerged through significant interactions with system type for connectance, modularity, and specialization, highlighting that the structural properties of networks depend on both habitat and the ecological role of floral visitors. Our findings reveal that floral visitor networks are shaped by habitat structure and the specific foraging behaviors and ecological roles of functional groups, implying caution regarding group-level differences in network properties. Therefore, conservation efforts must consider the distinct responses of pollinators and predators to landscape composition to safeguard ecosystem functionality and services.