Recruitment of entomopathogenic nematodes by insect-damaged maize roots
Sergio Rasmann, Tobias G Kollner, Joerg Degenhardt, Ivan Hiltpold, Stefan Toepfer, Ulrich Kuhlmann, Jonathan Gershenzon & Ted Turlings
| Résumé |
Plants under attack by arthropod herbivores often emit volatile
compounds from their leaves that attract natural enemies of the
herbivores. Here we report the first identification of an
insect-induced belowground plant signal, (E)-beta-caryophyllene,
which strongly attracts an entomopathogenic nematode. Maize roots
release this sesquiterpene in response to feeding by larvae of the
beetle Diabrotica virgifera virgifera, a maize pest that is
currently invading Europe. Most North American maize lines do not
release (E)-beta-caryophyllene, whereas European lines and the wild
maize ancestor, teosinte, readily do so in response to D. v.
virgifera attack. This difference was consistent with striking
differences in the attractiveness of representative lines in the
laboratory. Field experiments showed a fivefold higher nematode
infection rate of D. v. virgifera larvae on a maize variety that
produces the signal than on a variety that does not, whereas
spiking the soil near the latter variety with authentic
(E)-beta-caryophyllene decreased the emergence of adult D. v.
virgifera to less than half. North American maize lines must have
lost the signal during the breeding process. Development of new
varieties that release the attractant in adequate amounts should
help enhance the efficacy of nematodes as biological control agents
against root pests like D. v. virgifera. |
| Mots-clés |
CORN-ROOTWORM COLEOPTERA, SESQUITERPENE HYDROCARBONS, STEINERNEMA-CARPOCAPSAE, VOLATILE EMISSIONS, BIOLOGICAL-CONTROL, PLANTS, CHRYSOMELIDAE, CUES, OLFACTOMETER, VARIABILITY |
| Citation | Rasmann, S., Kollner, T. G., Degenhardt, J., Hiltpold, I., Toepfer, S., Kuhlmann, U., Gershenzon, J., & Turlings, T. (2005). Recruitment of entomopathogenic nematodes by insect-damaged maize roots. Nature, 434(7034), 732-737. |
| Type | Article de périodique (Anglais) |
| Date de publication | 2005 |
| Nom du périodique | Nature |
| Volume | 434 |
| Numéro | 7034 |
| Pages | 732-737 |