Novel Hydroxy- and Epoxy-

Area of Science:

• Plant Science
• Entomology
• Organic Chemistry

Background:

• Jasmonates are natural compounds vital for plant defense mechanisms.
• Their non-toxic and easily metabolized nature makes them attractive for sustainable agriculture.
• Understanding jasmonate structure-activity relationships is key for developing effective pest control strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the structure-activity relationships of dihydrojasmone, cis-jasmone, and their derivatives.
• To evaluate the impact of exogenous jasmonate application on aphid behavior at the plant interface.
• To explore the potential of jasmonates as sustainable aphid control agents.

Main Methods:

• Exogenous application of natural jasmonates and derivatives to host plants.
• Monitoring aphid probing behavior using the electrical penetration graph (EPG) technique.
• Chemoenzymatic transformation of cis-jasmone to create novel derivatives.

Main Results:

• Application of cis-jasmone, dihydrojasmone, hydroxyderivatives, epoxyderivatives, and alkyl-substituted δ-lactones inhibited Myzus persicae foraging in non-phloem tissues.
• A saturated bicyclic epoxy-δ-lactone unexpectedly enhanced plant acceptance by aphids.
• Jasmonate derivatives with a hydroxy group and a lactone ring exhibited higher activity.

Conclusions:

• Jasmonates and their derivatives show potential for sustainable aphid management.
• Specific derivatives can disrupt aphid foraging behavior, supporting a 'push-pull' strategy.
• Further research into jasmonate derivatives could lead to novel, eco-friendly pest control solutions.