Herbivory and Plant Genotype Influence Fitness-Related Responses of<i>Arabidopsis thaliana</i>to Indirect Plant-Plant Interactions

Previous studies have demonstrated that genetic identity between interacting perennial plants results in more effective defense when emitter and receiver neighbors have greater genetic similarity. However, the effects of both genetic relatedness and presence of herbivores on fitness-related responses of neighboring plants have not yet been explored. Our aim was to examine how manipulating these two important factors genetic and environmental factors can influence indirect plant-plant communication in the annual crucifer Arabidopsis thaliana. Plants of a single genotype (receivers) were exposed to volatile emissions of neighboring emitter plants with a similar or different genotype, and either intact or damaged by larvae of a specialist herbivore for ten days. Each of the four treatments was isolated in separate environmental chambers and the full experiment was replicated twice. Receiver plant growth and reproductive-related traits were measured ten days after exposure to treatments, and at senescence. Results showed that the effect of herbivory and plant genotype of emitter plants influenced responses related growth and reproduction in receiver plants. Receiver plants grew taller, had more inflorescence branching, and produced more fruits (60% more) when exposed to undamaged emitters of a different genotype than receivers exposed to the other emitter plant treatments. Therefore, genotype identity and environmental context (presence of herbivory) may be important factors influencing indirect plant-plant communication, which could, in turn, result in selection for genotypes showing increased fitness-related responses.

Defensive Role of Plant Latex on Insect Pests’ Suppression: A Critical Review

Over 350 million years have passed since the documentation of the first interaction between plants and insects. Numerous plant defense qualities and associated counter-adaptive features have developed as a result of these interactions between insects and plants. These characteristics might be either morphological or biological in nature. One of the most significant and useful biochemical characteristics in plants is latex. Latex has a sticky property due to presence of secondary metabolites in it, which aids in entangling or sealing the mouthparts of small insects. These metabolites also chemically interact with the insects interfering with crucial bodily processes. Plant latex has amazing properties that help protect plants from insects and inhibit them in general. It may be possible to control insect pests in a natural, secure, and long-lasting manner by correctly identifying plant latex with strong insecticidal properties and developing formulations of plant latex.

Tri-Trophic Interactions within Potato Agro-Ecosystem, Qassim, KSA

Tri-trophic interactions between fertilizer applications, cotton aphid (Aphis gossypii Golver) and associated beneficial insects were studied to investigate direct and indirect effects of fertilizers (types and ratios) on potato plants under field and greenhouse conditions, A. gossypii and associated beneficial insects. Fertilizers regimes showed direct impacts on the potato plant phenology and indirect effects on both A. gossypii population and the associated beneficial insects. Our data indicated that potato plants had been influenced by fertilizer elements used within tri-trophic system comprising potato plants, cotton aphid, and certain associated beneficial insects. This demonstrates that a bottom-up interaction is robust and has a particular value in the attraction of beneficial insects towards the potato plant signals due to used fertilizers which can also have a function when plants are attacked by A. gossypii. Yet, flexibility in the use of fertilizers (as chemical cues) is conserved, and that may help beneficial insects to specifically focus on the odor of plants that carry potential plant hosts and avoid plants that are only attacked by non-hosts. These results support the still controversial notion that fertilizer elements, at least in part, help plants to serve as functional signals to attract the enemies of the harmful insects. These observations declare the benefits of the tri-trophic interactions as an ecological phenomenon in particular and the food chain in general. Additionally, this study may be useful to be used as a predictable model with the associated beneficial insects which may have key roles in overall aphid suppression or regulating its population. Impact of fertilizers on potato phenology characteristics and the cotton aphid population density seems to be variable based on types and ratios of the fertilizers. Interfacing the impact of natural enemies (plant-pest-natural enemies) through tri-trophic relationship within the food chain verified to be straightforward way of predicting on the impact of beneficial insects-guild on the cotton aphid population density.

Aphid-host plant interaction

Black bean aphid, Aphis fabae (Homoptera;Aphididae) is a serious pest causing crop loss. Plant-aphid interaction is a dynamic system subjected to continual variation and changes. Host plants induce various biochemical and physical defense mechanisms due to aphid feeding. Aphids can overcome plant defenses by enzymatic adaptations and sequestering secondary metabolites produced by the plant within their bodies as a defense against their enemies. Many strategies were developed and evolved by aphids in order to overcome plant defense barriers which allowed them to feed, grow and reproduce on their host plants. This study aimed to aid in better understanding of the effect of altering host plant on specialist and generalist aphid fitness.The influence of plant defense on population development of Aphis fabae was also investigated. Analyses for insect enzymes were also demonstrated in addition to further biochemical studies on host plant defences. Generalists showed different ecological and enzymatic adaptations towards host plants than specialist Aphis fabae. The results were fully discussed in details.

昆虫携带花粉网络的构建及其与植物-传粉者互作网络的关系

昆虫的访问不等同于授粉,了解植物与传粉者之间的真实相互作用关系是构建传粉网络的关键步骤。本文阐述了昆虫携带花粉网络构建的关键因素和方法,分析了昆虫携带花粉网络与植物-传粉者互作网络的利弊以及二者之间的关系,以期两种网络可以相互补充,从而可以更好地了解植物与传粉者的相互作用关系以及群落物种多样性的形成和维持机制。

Ozone disrupts the communication between plants and insects in urban and suburban areas:an updated insight on plant volatiles

Plant-insect interactions are basic components of biodiversity conservation.To attain the international Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs),the interactions in urban and in suburban systems should be better understood to maintain the health of green infrastructure.The role of ground-level ozone(0_(3)) as an environmental stress disrupting interaction webs is presented.Ozone mixing ratios in suburbs are usually higher than in the center of cities and may reduce photosynthetic productivity at a relatively higher degree.Consequently,carbon-based defense capacities of plants may be suppressed by elevated 0_(3) more in the suburbs.However,contrary to this expectation,grazing damages by leaf beetles have been severe in some urban centers in comparison with the suburbs.To explain differences in grazing damages between urban areas and suburbs,the disruption of atmospheric communication signals by elevated 0_(3) via changes in plant-regulated biogenic volatile organic compounds and long-chain fatty acids are considered.The ecological roles of plant volatiles and the effects of 0_(3) from both a chemical and a biological perspective are presented.Ozone-disrupted plant volatiles should be considered to explain herbivory phenomena in urban and suburban systems.

Plant-Arthropod Associations from the Lower Miocene of the Most Basin in Northern Bohemia(Czech Republic):A Preliminary Report

Terrestrial plants and insects currently account for the majority of the Earth＇s biodiversity, and approximately haft of insect species are herbivores. Thus, insects and plants share ancient associations that date back more than 400 Myr. However, investigations of their past interactions are at the preliminary stages in Western Europe. Herein, we present the first results of our study of various feeding damage based on a dataset of nearly 3500 examined plant specimens from the Lower Miocene of the Lagerstaette Bflina Mine in the Most Basin, Czech Republic. This site provides a unique view of the Neogene freshwater ecosystems. It has long been studied by scientists working in different branches of sedimentology, paleobotany, and paleozoology. The fossils are preserved in three characteristic horizons overlaying the coal seam （Clayey Superseam Horizon, Delta Sandy Horizon, and Lake Clayey Horizon）, reflecting paleoenvironmental changes in a short time period of development. The trace fossils are classified as functional feeding groups or ＂guilds＂, without searching for a direct cause or a recent analog host relation. Approximately 23% of specimens of dicotyledonous plant leaves were found to be damaged and associated with some leaf ＂morphotypes＂. Deciduous plant-host taxa, and those with a chartaceous texture typical of riparian habitats, were frequently damaged, such as Populus, recorded with two species Populus zaddachii and Populus populina （57.9% and 31% herbivory levels, respectively）, followed by Acer, Alnus, and Carya, averaging almost 30% of damaged leaves/leaflets. There has been evidence of 60 damage types （DT） representing all functional feeding groups recorded at the Bflina Mine, including 12 types of leaf mines and 16 gall- type DT. In total, Lower Miocene of the Lagerstaette Bilina Mine exhibits a high level of external foliage feeding types （23.7%）, and a low level of more specialized DT, such as galls （4.3%） and leaf mines （〈1%）. A broader comparison based on DT of the main sedimentary environments shows significance supporting different biomes by frequency of damage levels and DT diversities.

昆虫分泌物介导的昆虫与植物互作研究进展

昆虫和植物是自然界生物类群中重要的组成部分,在长期进化的过程中形成了复杂的相互作用关系,如植物进化出了复杂的防御策略来抵御昆虫为害,同时,昆虫为了获取更多的生存资源也进化出了更多的适生方式。因此,分析和了解昆虫与寄主植物相互适应的研究进展对害虫的有效防治和抗虫植物的培育具有重要作用。在昆虫与寄主植物互作的研究中,植食性昆虫的口腔分泌物(唾液或反刍液)、卵分泌物、肠道合成物及微生物等作为连接昆虫和植物的中间媒介,其有效成分不仅起着诱导或增强植物防御的作用,而且部分还具有抑制或削弱植物防御的功能,因此,按有效成分发挥的作用,植食性昆虫的口腔分泌物主要可分为激发子和效应子。本文从昆虫分泌物的角度介绍了昆虫钙结合蛋白类、酶类和毒液蛋白类等效应子与脂肪酸氨基酸共轭物类、多肽类和酶类等激发子及其介导植物防御的主要方式,明确了植食性昆虫适应寄主植物防御的不同策略,不仅有助于对昆虫和植物两者互作机制的深入解析,而且为绿色有效防治害虫和植物抗性品种的选育提供新的思路。

植物-植食性昆虫-天敌三营养层次的相互作用及其研究方法

根据国内外的最新研究成果 ,从他感化合物和植物的营养物质、有毒物质、形态特征、密度、多样性以及分布等化学和物理因子两方面阐述了植物、植食性昆虫及其天敌三营养层次间直接和间接的相互关系 ,揭示了植物在三者关系中的核心作用 ,并就目前在该领域中的一些常用的研究方法作了介绍 .

蜜蜂气味结合蛋白与外源性化合物互作机制研究进展

嗅觉是蜜蜂赖以生存和繁殖的主要感官方式,可为蜜蜂外出觅食、躲避天敌、交配等行为提供重要信息,而气味结合蛋白(odorant-binding proteins,OBPs)在其嗅觉感知中发挥着关键作用。探究外界环境中各种化学物质与蜜蜂OBPs之间的相互作用,对于揭示蜜蜂OBPs对不同外源性化合物的结合特性和结合机制具有重要意义。外源性化合物主要包括化学信息物质(信息素和蜜源开花植物挥发物)以及杀虫剂等农用化学品。一方面,化学信息物质与蜜蜂OBPs结合,在维持蜂群稳定、繁殖、觅食、授粉等生理功能中发挥着重要作用;另一方面,杀虫剂与蜜蜂OBPs结合则可能危害蜜蜂嗅觉系统,影响或干扰蜜蜂对环境气味分子的识别。本文综述了蜜蜂OBPs的种类、功能及其与外源性化合物互作机制的研究进展,以期为深入探究蜜蜂OBPs的生理功能、保护蜜蜂免受杀虫剂等化学物质的危害提供参考。

生境破碎化对植物-昆虫及昆虫之间相互关系的影响

生境破碎化对生物多样性和生态系统功能影响是当前国内外生态学家研究的热点问题之一。文章针对生境破碎化的内涵、量度指标进行介绍,着重分析生境破碎化对植物-昆虫关系的影响,包括植物与植食性昆虫的关系、植物与传粉昆虫的关系、种子与种子捕食者的关系,植物及其分解者的关系,还分析生境破碎化对昆虫-昆虫关系的影响,包括昆虫及其拟寄生物的关系、捕食者与猎物的关系。通过对上述方面的阐述,旨在更好地理解生境破碎化对动植物群落相互关系产生的深刻影响,并提出今后研究中应注意的问题和研究热点。

寄主植物-甜菜夜蛾-寄生蜂三级营养关系的研究进展

综述了近年来甜菜夜蛾Spodopteraexigua(H櫣bner)、寄主植物和寄生蜂互作关系方面的研究进展。介绍了甜菜夜蛾取食诱导的植物抗虫性产生的原因和机制;阐述了诱导植物产生抗性的甜菜夜蛾激发子volicitin的合成途径和功能,以及虫害诱导的植物挥发物和蛋白酶抑制剂对甜菜夜蛾及其寄生蜂的生态学功能;展望了植物诱导抗虫性在甜菜夜蛾的生物防治和新型抗虫品种开发等领域的应用前景。

长白山高山草甸植物-传粉昆虫相互作用网络可视化及格局分析

传粉昆虫在显花植物起源和演化的早期起着决定性的作用（任东等,1998）,对现存有花植物的生存、繁衍也具有重要的作用。在显花植物中,大约有85%的物种属于虫媒传粉,利用传粉昆虫可显著地提高作物的产量。花通过提供花粉、花蜜等酬报以及休息、狩猎、觅偶交配和取暖的场所吸引访花昆虫访花,而昆虫在访花过程中或多或少地携带了花粉,触动了柱头,对所访的花产生授粉作用（钦俊德,1987）。

植物-昆虫间的化学通讯及其行为控制

在植物与昆虫间的化学通讯中植物气味物质起着决定性的作用 ,它调控着昆虫的多种行为 ,诸如引诱昆虫趋向寄主植物 ,刺激昆虫取食 ,引导昆虫选择产卵场所 ,进行传粉和防御昆虫等。有些植物则当受到食植性昆虫危害时会释出一些引诱害虫天敌的化学信号。这些化学信号是一些挥发性萜类混合物 ,天敌昆虫就以此来区分受害和未受害植株。尽管目前在害虫综合治理中 ,昆虫信息素的应用越来越显得比天然植物气味源更受重视 ,但是必须指出的是 ,昆虫信息化合物首次成功地使用于植物保护的却是天然植物气味源。在利用植物气味源作害虫测报和防治中 ,近年来一种简单价廉的粘胶诱捕器己成为多种害虫的标准测报工具。在害虫综合治理中利用植物气味源的技术显然是具有不可估量的潜力。文中提出了利用基因工程技术来改造植物 ,使植物能释放特定的驱避剂或其它控制昆虫行为的特殊气味物质的新概念。

根际微生物-植物-病毒-介体昆虫多元互作研究进展

近年来各种农作物病虫害的频发,以及化肥、农药滥用带来的系列农业问题的加剧,迫切需要更加环保可持续的方法实现绿色植物保护。植物病毒导致植物严重病害,素有"植物癌症"之称,因其难于防治,高度依赖化学农药防治介体昆虫。农业生态系统中,作物已有的精密调控机制,维持其与周围各种有害或有益生物进行信息交流并成功在复杂的生境中成长,病害的爆发与控制是植物-病原-昆虫之间的抗性节制-反制的博弈过程。植物在整个生活史中与生境中各种生物发生多种相互作用并彼此联系,这些互作利于或不利于其生长发育及繁殖。探索研究利用植物根际微生物群落(Microbiota),提升植物抗虫传病毒病害能力的多元生物互作机制,有助于更好的保护植物健康,提高生态文明。从介绍植物-根际微生物、植物-病毒、植物-昆虫、植物-病毒-昆虫四个互作的子系统研究现状入手,揭示目前所知的各个分系统互联互通的分子机制,并讨论围绕植物根际微生物组进行多元互作研究的趋势及重要意义,以期对有关植物与周围生物互作做较为全面和系统的介绍,从而为基于多元互作机制寻找绿色、可持续的治理植物虫传病害策略提供参考和启发新思路。

Insect transmission of plant viruses： Multilayered interactions optimize viral propagation

By serving as vectors of transmission, insects play a key role in the infection cycle of many plant viruses. Viruses use sophisticated transmission strategies to overcome the spatial barrier separating plants and the impediment imposed by the plant cell wall. Interactions among insect vectors, viruses, and host plants mediate transmission by integrating all organizational levels, from molecules to populations. Best-examined on the molecular scale are two basic transmission modes wherein virus-vector interactions have been well characterized. Whereas association of virus particles with specific sites in the vector＇s mouthparts or in alimentary tract regions immediately posterior to them is required for noncirculative transmission, the cycle of particles through the vector body is necessary for circulative transmission. Virus transmission is also determined by interactions that are associated with changes in vector feeding behaviors and with alterations in plant host＇s morphology and/or metabolism that favor the attraction or deterrence of vectors. A recent concept in virus-host-vector interactions proposes that when vectors land on infected plants, vector elicitors and effectors ＂inform＂ the plants of the confluence of interacting entities and trigger signaling pathways and plant defenses. Simultaneously, the plant responses may also influence virus acquisition and inoculation by vectors. Over- all, a picture is emerging where transmission depends on multilayered virus-vector-host interactions that define the route of a virus through the vector, and on the manipulation of the host and the vector. These interactions guarantee virus propagation until one or more of the interactants undergo changes through evolution or are halted by environmental interventions.

Comparison of cauliflower-insect-fungus interactions and pesticides for cabbage root fly control

Cabbage root fly （Delia radicum L.） control represents a major challenge in brassica production, therefore different management strategies for its control were tested in conventionally managed open field cauliflower production. Strategies included treatments with low-risk methods such as nitrogen lime, the insecticide spinosad and the Beauveria bassiana ATCC 74040-based biopesticide Naturalis. Their effects were compared with treatments based on nonformulated fungal species Metarhizium brunneum, B. bassiana, Clonostachys solani, Trichoderma atroviride, T. koningiopsis, and T. gamsii and commercial insecticides λ-cyhalothrin and thiamethoxam. Spinosad and thiamethoxam were pipetted to individual plants before transplanting; λ-cyhalothrin was sprayed after transplanting; nitrogen lime was applied at first hoeing. Nonformulated fimgi were delivered onto cauliflower plantlets＇ roots as a single pretransplantation inoculation. The cabbage root fly population dynamics exhibited a strong spatiotemporal variation. The lowest number of cabbage root fly pupae recovered from cauliflower roots in the field experiments was recorded in plants treated with spinosad （significant reduction）, followed by Naturalis and one of the tested M. brunneurn strains （nonsignificant reduction）. Significantly more pupae were counted in the nitrogen lime treatment. The field experiments showed that a single drench of cauliflower plantlets with spinosad offered consistent and enduring cabbage root fly control. Naturalis and nonformulated fungal isolates did not decrease cabbage root fly pressure significantly, apparently due to lack of statistical power. The implications of the substantial intra- and inter-annual pest pressure variation and the benefits of using single plant treatments are discussed, and recommendations for improvement of rhizosphere-competence utilizing biological control strategies provided.

Characterization of protein-protein interactions between rice viruses and vector insects

Planthoppers are the most notorious rice pests,because they transmit various rice viruses in a persistent-propagative manner.Protein–protein interactions(PPIs)between virus and vector are crucial for virus transmission by vector insects.However,the number of known PPIs for pairs of rice viruses and planthoppers is restricted by low throughput research methods.In this study,we applied DeNovo,a virus-host sequence-based PPI predictor,to predict potential PPIs at a genome-wide scale between three planthoppers and five rice viruses.PPIs were identified at two different confidence thresholds,referred to as low and high modes.The number of PPIs for the five planthopper-virus pairs ranged from 506 to 1985 in the low mode and from 1254 to 4286 in the high mode.After eliminating the“one-too-many”redundant interacting information,the PPIs with unique planthopper proteins were reduced to 343–724 in the low mode and 758–1671 in the high mode.Homologous analysis showed that 11 sets and 31 sets of homologous planthopper proteins were shared by all planthopper-virus interactions in the two modes,indicating that they are potential conserved vector factors essential for transmission of rice viruses.Ten PPIs between small brown planthopper and rice stripe virus(RSV)were verified using glutathione-S-transferase(GST)/His-pull down or co-immunoprecipitation assay.Five of the ten PPIs were proven positive,and three of the five SBPH proteins were confirmed to interact with RSV.The predicted PPIs provide new clues for further studies of the complicated relationship between rice viruses and their vector insects.

Potentials of Pesticidal Plants in Enhancing Diversity of Pollinators in Cropped Fields

Declines in populations of pollinators in agricultural based landscapes have raised a concern, which could be associated with various factors such as intensive farming systems like monocropping and the use of non-selective synthetic pesticides. Such practices are likely to remove beneficial non-crop plants around or nearby the cropped fields. This may in turn result into losses of pollinators due to loss of the natural habitats for insects therefore, interfering the interaction between beneficial insects and flowering crop plants. Initiatives to restore friendly habitats for pollinators require multidisciplinary approaches. One of these could be the use of pesticidal flowering plants as part of field margin plants with the aim of encouraging the population of pollinators whilst reducing the number of pests. Farmers should be fully engaged in the efforts of creating conducive environments to pollinators and be well equipped with the knowledge of proper habitats management strategies in agricultural fields. Developing appropriate conservation strategies to combat decline of pollinators is of high importance and thus there is a need to evaluate management practices, which potentially favour the populations of pollinators. Therefore, this review aims at unravelling available evidences on habitats manipulation options through provision of flowering plants along the field margins that have shown to increase plant biodiversity surrounding the cropped fields. It also summarizes the options for increasing plant biodiversity, which have improved habitats for the pollinating insects and beneficially boosting pollination services in agro-ecosystems.

Molecular strategies of plant defense and insect counter-defense

The prediction of human population growth worldwide indicates there will be a need to substantially increase food production in order to meet the demand on food supply.This can be achieved in part by the effective management of insect pests. Since plants have co-evolved with herbivorous insects for millions of years, they have developed an array of defense genes to protect themselves against a wide variety of chewing and sucking insects.Using these naturally-occurring genes via genetic engineering represents an environmentally friendly insect pest-control measure. Insects, however, have been actively evolving adaptive mechanisms to evade natural plant defenses. Such evolved adaptability undoubtedly has helped insects during the last century to rapidly overcome a great many humanimposed management practices and agents, including chemical insecticides and genetically engineered plants. Thus, better understanding of the molecular and genetic basis of plant defense and insect counter-defense mechanisms is imperative, not only from a basic science perspective, but also for biotechnology-based pest control practice. In this review, we emphasize the recent advance and understanding of molecular strategies of attack-counterattack and defense-counter-defense between plants and their herbivores.