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Application of Two-spotted Spider Mite Tetranychus urticae for Plant-pest Interaction Studies
Published on: July 4, 2014
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Spider mite egg extract modifies Arabidopsis response to future infestations
Dairon Ojeda-Martinez1, Manuel Martinez1,2, Isabel Diaz1,2
1Centro de Biotecnología y Genómica de Plantas, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid - Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria, Madrid, Spain.
Scientific Reports
|September 7, 2021
Summary
Plant responses to spider mite egg extracts involve early biotic stress reactions but prolonged exposure reduces defenses, increasing susceptibility. This impacts plant-herbivore interactions and pest management strategies.
Area of Science:
- Plant Science
- Molecular Biology
- Entomology
Background:
- Plant responses to herbivore oviposition are crucial for understanding plant-insect interactions.
- Current knowledge primarily focuses on Lepidopteran models with distinct feeding and egg-laying phases.
- The plant response to pests with simultaneous feeding and oviposition remains understudied.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the transcriptomic response of Arabidopsis to Tetranychus urticae egg extracts.
- To investigate the impact of simultaneous feeding and oviposition on plant defense mechanisms.
- To understand how prolonged exposure to egg extracts alters plant susceptibility.
Main Methods:
- Transcriptomic analysis of Arabidopsis plants exposed to Tetranychus urticae egg extracts.
- Measurement of calcium (Ca2+) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels.
- Analysis of phytohormone pathways (jasmonic acid, ethylene), volatile production, and glucosinolate levels.
- Assessment of mite feeding effects and female fertility on pre-exposed plants.
Main Results:
- Early plant responses to egg extract mimic biotic stress, involving Ca2+ and ROS alterations, and activation of jasmonic acid and ethylene pathways.
- Defense mechanisms like volatile and glucosinolate production are induced.
- Pre-exposure to egg extract reduces mite female fertility.
- Prolonged exposure (72h) leads to decreased activation of plant defense responses, increasing plant susceptibility and damage.
Conclusions:
- Arabidopsis exhibits complex transcriptional reprogramming in response to spider mite egg extracts.
- Initial plant defenses are activated, but prolonged exposure leads to a suppression of these responses, rendering the plant more vulnerable.
- Understanding these dynamic transcriptional changes is vital for developing effective pest management strategies in agriculture.
