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Plants
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Plant–Insect Interactions II
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Plant–Insect Interactions II

A special issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant Protection and Biotic Interactions".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2024 | Viewed by 3191

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Francisco Rubén Badenes-Pérez

E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor
Consejor Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, 28006 Madrid, Spain
Interests: plant–insect interactions; agroecology; biological control conservation; pollinator conservation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The topic of plant–insect interactions includes a broad range of important relationships between plants and insects, such as crop protection, insect pollination, and plant provision of food and shelter to insects. The chemistry and structure of plants provide defense mechanisms against insect herbivores, also attracting parasitoids and predators of insect herbivores. Plant secondary metabolites are also used by specialist insects to locate their host–plants. Entomophilous flowers attract pollinators searching for nectar and pollen, which are also a food source for many other insects. Plants also provide shelter for insects that feed on other plants or on other organisms. Plant–insect interactions are also influenced by the surrounding environment, which affects both plants and insects. The interaction between plants and insects is continuously shaped through coevolution. This Special Issue welcomes articles focusing on any aspect related to plant–insect interactions.

Dr. Francisco Rubén Badenes-Pérez
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Plants is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  •  entomophily
  •  herbivory
  •  host–plant resistance
  •  host–plant selection
  •  insect pollination
  •  plant chemistry
  •  plant–insect interactions
  •  plant protection
  •  pollination
  •  biological control

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

16 pages, 1077 KiB  
Article
Interactions of Opuntia ficus-indica with Dactylopius coccus and D. opuntiae (Hemiptera: Dactylopiidae) through the Study of Their Volatile Compounds
by Esteban Rodríguez-Leyva, Esperanza García-Pascual, Marco M. González-Chávez, Santiago de J. Méndez-Gallegos, Juan A. Morales-Rueda, Juan C. Posadas-Hurtado, Ángel Bravo-Vinaja and Avelina Franco-Vega
Plants 2024, 13(7), 963; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13070963 - 27 Mar 2024
Viewed by 590
Abstract
Opuntia ficus-indica has always interacted with many phytophagous insects; two of them are Dactylopius coccus and D. opuntiae. Fine cochineal (D. coccus) is produced to extract carminic acid, and D. opuntiae, or wild cochineal, is an invasive pest of [...] Read more.
Opuntia ficus-indica has always interacted with many phytophagous insects; two of them are Dactylopius coccus and D. opuntiae. Fine cochineal (D. coccus) is produced to extract carminic acid, and D. opuntiae, or wild cochineal, is an invasive pest of O. ficus-indica in more than 20 countries around the world. Despite the economic and environmental relevance of this cactus, D. opuntiae, and D. coccus, there are few studies that have explored volatile organic compounds (VOCs) derived from the plant–insect interaction. The aim of this work was to determine the VOCs produced by D. coccus and D. opuntiae and to identify different VOCs in cladodes infested by each Dactylopius species. The VOCs (essential oils) were obtained by hydrodistillation and identified by GC-MS. A total of 66 VOCs from both Dactylopius species were identified, and 125 from the Esmeralda and Rojo Pelón cultivars infested by D. coccus and D. opuntiae, respectively, were determined. Differential VOC production due to infestation by each Dactylopius species was also found. Some changes in methyl salicylate, terpenes such as linalool, or the alcohol p-vinylguaiacol were related to Dactylopius feeding on the cladodes of their respective cultivars. Changes in these VOCs and their probable role in plant defense mechanisms should receive more attention because this knowledge could improve D. coccus rearing or its inclusion in breeding programs for D. opuntiae control in regions where it is a key pest of O. ficus-indica. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant–Insect Interactions II)
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12 pages, 2965 KiB  
Article
Ontogenetic Changes in the Feeding Behaviour of Helicoverpa armigera Larvae on Pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan) Flowers and Pods
by Trevor M. Volp, Myron P. Zalucki and Michael J. Furlong
Plants 2024, 13(5), 696; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13050696 - 29 Feb 2024
Viewed by 559
Abstract
Despite substantial research examining caterpillar–plant interactions, changes in the feeding behaviour of lepidopteran larvae as they develop are poorly understood. In this study, we investigated ontogenetic changes in the behaviour of Helicoverpa armigera larvae feeding on reproductive structures of pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan [...] Read more.
Despite substantial research examining caterpillar–plant interactions, changes in the feeding behaviour of lepidopteran larvae as they develop are poorly understood. In this study, we investigated ontogenetic changes in the behaviour of Helicoverpa armigera larvae feeding on reproductive structures of pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan). Specifically, we examined the preference for and avoidance of pigeonpea flowers and pods of first, second, third, and fourth instar H. armigera larvae. We also conducted a no-choice assay to compare the ability of third and fourth instar larvae to penetrate pigeonpea pod walls, which act as a physical defence against herbivory. When presented with a choice between pigeonpea pods and flowers, different instars behaved differently. First and second instar larvae largely avoided pigeonpea pods, instead feeding on flowers; third instar larvae initially avoided pods, but by 24 h, did not strongly discriminate between the structures; and fourth instars demonstrated a preference for pods. When initially placed on pods, first instars were slower than other instars to leave these structures, despite pods being suboptimal feeding sites for small caterpillars. We identified a clear instar-specific ability to penetrate through the pod wall to reach the seeds. Most third instar larvae were unable to penetrate the pod wall, whereas most fourth instars succeeded. Third instars suffered a physiological cost (measured by relative growth rate) when boring through the pod wall, which was not observed in fourth instars. Our study further illuminates the insect–plant interactions of the H. armigera–pigeonpea system and provides evidence for the significant changes in feeding behaviour that may occur during lepidopteran larval development. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant–Insect Interactions II)
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19 pages, 8238 KiB  
Article
Molecular Characterization Analysis and Adaptive Responses of Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) to Nutritional and Enzymatic Variabilities in Various Maize Cultivars
by Qiangyan Zhang, Yanlei Zhang, Kexin Zhang, Huiping Liu, Yuping Gou, Chunchun Li, Inzamam Ul Haq, Peter Quandahor and Changzhong Liu
Plants 2024, 13(5), 597; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13050597 - 22 Feb 2024
Viewed by 591
Abstract
The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda Smith (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), a common agricultural pest known for its extensive migration and wide host ranges, causes considerable harm to maize (Zea mays L.). In this study, we utilized two molecular marker genes, COI and Tpi, [...] Read more.
The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda Smith (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), a common agricultural pest known for its extensive migration and wide host ranges, causes considerable harm to maize (Zea mays L.). In this study, we utilized two molecular marker genes, COI and Tpi, to compare the genetic characteristics of the collected original samples. Additionally, through an interactive study between S. frugiperda larvae and six maize varieties aiming to understand the insect’s adaptability and resistance mechanisms, our analysis revealed that both the COI and Tpi genes identified S. frugiperda as the corn strain. Further examination of the larvae showed significant differences in nutritional indices, digestive, and detoxification enzyme activities. Special maize varieties were found to offer higher efficiency in nutrient conversion and assimilation compared with common varieties. This study revealed adaptations in S. frugiperda’s digestive and detoxification processes in response to the different maize varieties. For instance, larvae reared on common maize exhibited elevated amylase and lipase activities. Interestingly, detoxification enzyme activities exhibited different patterns of variation in different maize varieties. The Pearson correlation analysis between nutritional indices, enzyme activities, and the nutritional content and secondary metabolites of maize leaves provided deeper insights into the pest’s adaptability. The results highlighted significant relationships between specific nutritional components in maize and the physiological responses of S. frugiperda. Overall, our findings contribute substantially to the understanding of S. frugiperda’s host plant adaptability, offering critical insights for the development of sustainable pest management strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant–Insect Interactions II)
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26 pages, 4692 KiB  
Article
Comparative Transcriptome Analysis of Defense Response of Potato to Phthorimaea operculella Infestation
by Chunyue Zhu, Xiaocui Yi, Miao Yang, Yiyi Liu, Yao Yao, Shengjiang Zi, Bin Chen and Guanli Xiao
Plants 2023, 12(17), 3092; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12173092 - 29 Aug 2023
Viewed by 1036
Abstract
The potato tuber moth (PTM), Phthorimaea operculella Zeller (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), is one of the most destructive pests of potato crops worldwide. Although it has been reported how potatoes integrate the early responses to various PTM herbivory stimuli by accumulatively adding the components, the [...] Read more.
The potato tuber moth (PTM), Phthorimaea operculella Zeller (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), is one of the most destructive pests of potato crops worldwide. Although it has been reported how potatoes integrate the early responses to various PTM herbivory stimuli by accumulatively adding the components, the broad-scale defense signaling network of potato to single stimuli at multiple time points are unclear. Therefore, we compared three potato transcriptional profiles of undamaged plants, mechanically damaged plants and PTM-feeding plants at 3 h, 48 h, and 96 h, and further analyzed the gene expression patterns of a multitude of insect resistance-related signaling pathways, including phytohormones, reactive oxygen species, secondary metabolites, transcription factors, MAPK cascades, plant–pathogen interactions, protease inhibitors, chitinase, and lectins, etc. in the potato under mechanical damage and PTM infestation. Our results suggested that the potato transcriptome showed significant responses to mechanical damage and potato tuber moth infestation, respectively. The potato transcriptome responses modulated over time and were higher at 96 than at 48 h, so transcriptional changes in later stages of PTM infestation may underlie the potato recovery response. Although the transcriptional profiles of mechanically damaged and PTM-infested plants overlap extensively in multiple signaling pathways, some genes are uniquely induced or repressed. True herbivore feeding induced more and stronger gene expression compared to mechanical damage. In addition, we identified 2976, 1499, and 117 genes that only appeared in M-vs-P comparison groups by comparing the transcriptomes of PTM-damaged and mechanically damaged potatoes at 3 h, 48 h, and 96 h, respectively, and these genes deserve further study in the future. This transcriptomic dataset further enhances the understanding of the interactions between potato and potato tuber moth, enriches the molecular resources in this research area and paves the way for breeding insect-resistant potatoes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant–Insect Interactions II)
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