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Biogenic VOCs Emission Profiles Associated with Plant-Pest Interaction for Phenotyping Applications
Milton Valencia-Ortiz1, Afef Marzougui1, Chongyuan Zhang1
1Department of Biological System Engineering, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA.
Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)
|July 9, 2022
Summary
Plant volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can indicate pest resistance. Comparing VOCs in potato and wheat revealed unique compounds associated with resistance, suggesting VOCs as a rapid phenotyping tool for crop breeding.
Area of Science:
- Plant Science
- Chemical Ecology
- Agronomy
Background:
- Plant volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are crucial in plant-pest interactions.
- Analyzing VOC emission profiles can reveal plant resistance mechanisms.
- Biogenic VOCs can serve as biomarkers for non-destructive phenotyping.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare VOC emission profiles in potato and wheat under pest attack.
- To identify constitutive and induced VOCs related to plant resistance.
- To assess the potential of VOCs as a rapid phenotyping tool for crop resistance.
Main Methods:
- Gas chromatography-flame ionization detection (GC-FID) was used to analyze VOCs.
- Potato (Solanum bulbocastanum) inoculated with nematodes (Meloidogyne chitwoodi).
- Wheat cultivars (resistant 'Hollis', susceptible 'Alturas') infested with Hessian flies.
Main Results:
- Potato study: Unique VOC peaks indicated resistance to Meloidogyne chitwoodi.
- Wheat study: Resistant wheat cultivar 'Hollis' exhibited unique VOCs.
- Both crops showed common VOCs, but intensity differed in resistant vs. susceptible cultivars.
Conclusions:
- Plant VOC profiles effectively differentiate between resistant and susceptible responses to pests.
- VOC analysis offers a rapid, non-destructive method for phenotyping crop resistance.
- This approach can accelerate breeding programs for pest-resistant crops.
