Insect-Plant Interactions and Control

Multi-omics approaches define novel aphid effector candidates associated with virulence and avirulence phenotypes

The paper uses multi-omics approaches to identify aphid effector candidates linked to virulence and avirulence in pea aphids on Medicago truncatula.

Conjugation of dn-OPDA with amino acids inhibits its hormonal bioactivity in Marchantia polymorpha

The paper identifies dn-OPDA-amino acid conjugates in Marchantia polymorpha and shows they reduce dn-OPDA bioactivity, highlighting a dichotomous role of jasmonate conjugation in land plants.

Catechol acetylglucose: A newly identified benzoxazinoid-regulated defensive metabolite in maize

This study identifies catechol acetylglucose as a benzoxazinoid-regulated defensive metabolite in maize and shows its role in plant-insect interactions.

Investigating the Diuraphis noxia-Triticum aestivum interaction using transcriptomics

The paper investigates the transcriptomic responses of Diuraphis noxia biotypes and Triticum aestivum during compatible and incompatible interactions, identifying detoxification, transport, and epigenetic mechanisms.

Butterfly eggs prime anti-herbivore defense in an annual but not perennial Arabidopsis species

This study compares the anti-herbivore defense primability in annual and perennial Arabidopsis species after exposure to Pieris brassicae eggs and larval feeding.

Field evidence for the role of plant volatiles induced by caterpillar-derived elicitors in the prey location behavior of predatory social wasps

The paper tests if caterpillar oral secretions trigger plant volatiles that attract predatory wasps, finding that secretions enhance volatile emissions and increase predation.

Eavesdropping on Herbivores: Using contact microphones to quantify Plant-Insect Interactions

This paper uses contact microphones to detect and monitor insect herbivory on plants, showing they can identify insect species and quantify feeding activity in both lab and field settings.

Stomata: Gatekeepers of Uptake and Defense Priming by Green Leaf Volatiles in plants

This study shows that stomatal closure reduces green leaf volatile (GLV) uptake in maize, impairing GLV-induced sesquiterpene biosynthesis and altering plant responses to herbivory under stress.

Evolutionary Systems Biology Identifies Genetic Trade-offs In Rice Defense Against Above- and Belowground Attackers

The paper identifies genetic trade-offs in rice defense against above- and belowground attackers through analysis of KSL8 and MG1 loci.

Characterisation of aphid antixenosis in aphid-resistant ancestor wheat, Triticum monococcum

This study investigates antixenosis in aphid-resistant wheat by testing volatile organic compound responses in aphids.

Diet breadth in two polyphagous Spodoptera moths in a wide range of host and non-host plants and the potential for range expansion

This study compares diet breadth and larval performance of two Spodoptera moths on diverse plants, finding that S. littoralis has a broader diet than S. frugiperda.

Increasing intraspecific plant chemical diversity at plot and plant level affects arthropod communities

The paper investigates how intraspecific plant chemical diversity affects arthropod communities by manipulating chemotype richness and composition in a field experiment.

Activation of two noncanonical R proteins by an insect effector confers plant immunity to aphid infestation

The paper identifies RMES1A and RMES1B as resistance proteins activated by an insect effector to confer aphid resistance in sorghum.

Theoretical analyses for the evolution of biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) emission strategy

This study develops a spatially-explicit model to analyze the evolutionary dynamics of BVOC emission strategies in plants, finding that intra-individual communication promotes emission while inter-individual communication favors cheaters.

Addition of Soil Protists Enhances Performance of Agrochemical Seed Treatments

This paper shows that adding soil protists to agrochemical seed treatments improves pest protection by enhancing agrochemical transport through soil.

Competitor Displacement by an Herbivore that Manipulates Plant Defences

This study investigates how T. evansi suppresses bean defences and facilitates T. urticae colonization, revealing spatial and molecular mechanisms of competitor displacement.

Common fluorescent Pseudomonas in the phyllosphere can influence aphid behavior in diverse ways

The paper investigates how fluorescent Pseudomonas bacteria in pea plant phyllospheres influence pea aphid behavior, finding some strains attract aphids while others are avoided.

Wounding perception by jasmonate-mediated JAZ condensation in plants

This study reveals that JAZ1 undergoes phase separation in response to wounding, facilitating rapid jasmonate signaling by reducing its interaction with MYC2 and recruiting COI1 for degradation.

Diurnal rhythmicity in metabolism and salivary effector expression shapes aphid performance on host plants

This study identifies diurnal rhythms in aphid metabolism and salivary effector expression, showing their impact on feeding behavior and host colonization.

CAP peptide artificially induces insect gall

The paper tests CAP peptide as a gall-inducing effector and successfully generates artificial galls in plants using CAP peptide, auxin, and cytokinin.

Herbivore insect small RNA effector suppress plant defense by cross-kingdom gene silencing

The paper shows insect miR29-b suppresses plant defense by silencing BAG4, revealing cross-kingdom gene silencing as a mechanism in herbivore-plant interactions.

Large genetic variability of maize leaf palatability to european corn borer : metabolic insights

The paper evaluates maize resistance to European Corn Borer by linking palatability to metabolomic profiles, identifying key metabolites correlated with resistance.

Development of Encarsia tabacivora (Viggiani) (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) in nymphs of Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) MEAN 1 (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae)

This study describes the development of Encarsia tabacivora in Bemisia tabaci nymphs under laboratory conditions, finding thelytokous parthenogenesis and superparasitism.

Additive genetic effects in interacting species jointly determine the outcome of caterpillar herbivory

The paper shows that additive genetic effects from both plants and caterpillars determine the outcome of herbivory on alfalfa, with plant phytochemicals playing a key role.

Tomato Prosystemin is much more than a simple Systemin precursor

This study shows that truncated prosystemin promotes defense in tomato plants through a hormone-independent pathway involving oligogalacturonides, suggesting prosystemin has multiple roles beyond its role as a Systemin precursor.

Maize inbred line B96 is the source of large-effect loci for resistance to generalist but not specialist spider mites

The paper identifies large-effect loci in maize inbred lines B96, B49, and B75 for resistance to the generalist spider mite Tetranychus urticae, but not the specialist Oligonychus pratensis.

A novel family of secreted proteins linked to plant gall development

The paper identifies a novel family of secreted proteins, BICYCLE, in aphids that are associated with plant gall development through differential gene expression.

Selection of popcorn genotypes tolerant to Spodoptera frugiperda and key traits related to the identification of tolerance

Differential gene expression reflects larval development and survival of monarch butterflies on different milkweed hosts

The paper examines differential gene and microRNA expression in monarch butterfly larvae fed different milkweed hosts, finding significant differences in growth-related genes and potential regulatory roles of miR-278.

An aphid host-responsive RNA transcript that migrates systemically in plants promotes aphid reproduction

The paper identifies an aphid gene family that translocates RNA into plants, promoting aphid reproduction and indicating cross-kingdom RNA deployment.