Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Susheng Song, Bei Liu, Junqiao Song, Shihai Pang, Tianxue Song, Shang Gao, Yue Zhang, Huang Huang, Tiancong Qi
Summary: This study reveals the molecular framework of signaling crosstalk between JA and ET in regulating plant development, secondary metabolism, and defense responses by modulating the interactions between JAZ proteins and WBM complexes.
JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE PLANT BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Jia-Rong Cui, Xiao-Li Bing, Yi-Jing Tang, Fan Liu, Lu Ren, Jia-Yi Zhou, Huan-Huan Liu, Meng-Ke Wang, Ary A. Hoffmann, Xiao-Yue Hong
Summary: This study reveals that herbivore-associated molecular patterns (HAMPs) can activate plant defense responses and identifies a widely distributed protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) in arthropods as a key player. The PDI from the spider mite triggers immunity in various solanaceae plants and its effect is countered by spider mite effectors. Additionally, PDIs from phylogenetically distinct herbivorous and non-herbivorous arthropods can induce plant immunity. The activation of plant defense responses impairs pest performance but is essential for the survival of mites and whiteflies.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Zhenggao Xiao, Ningke Fan, Wenqing Zhu, Hai-Long Qian, Xiu-Ping Yan, Zhenyu Wang, Sergio Rasmann
Summary: The application of nanosilicon has been found to enhance plant defenses against various stresses. Silicon quantum nanodots, with their unique biological and physiochemical properties, show promise in regulating plant responses to stress. By studying maize, it was observed that the addition of Si NDs and sodium silicate effectively inhibited the growth of caterpillars and activated defense genes. Field experiments also demonstrated the potential of Si NDs in increasing maize yield. These findings suggest that Si NDs can be an effective and ecofriendly crop protection strategy in agroecosystems.
Article
Plant Sciences
Ran Li, Jingjing Jin, Jie Xu, Lanlan Wang, Jiancai Li, Yonggen Lou, Ian T. Baldwin
Summary: This study identified a large number of lncRNAs that play important roles in the defense processes against herbivores in wild tobacco, especially early responder lincRNAs related to the activation of bioactive jasmonates (JAs) and regulator genes in the JA signaling pathway.
PLANT CELL AND ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Review
Plant Sciences
Gen-ichiro Arimura
Summary: Plants under threat from herbivores can devise survival strategies by sensing and responding to elicitors secreted by herbivores. These elicitors activate diverse plant defense mechanisms, increasing resistance to herbivores. Insights into the cellular pathways involved in plant-herbivore interactions are leading to potential agricultural applications.
TRENDS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Se Jong Jeong, Bo Eun Nam, Hyeon Jin Jeong, Jae Yeon Jang, Youngsung Joo, Jae Geun Kim
Summary: Plants balance investments in growth and defense, and the levels of defensive secondary metabolites may vary according to plant age and season. This study examined the effects of aristolochic acids and nutritional value on specialist and generalist herbivores colonizing Aristolochia contorta. Young leaves had higher concentrations of aristolochic acids but lower nutritional value, leading to lower larval performance. At the end of the growing season, the nutritional value of leaves decreased, affecting the performance of both herbivores regardless of plant age.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Christina Lynggaard, Tobias Guldberg Froslev, Matthew S. Johnson, Morten Tange Olsen, Kristine Bohmann
Summary: This study provides evidence for the use of airborne eDNA analysis as an efficient tool for monitoring terrestrial vertebrate communities. By conducting metabarcoding of 143 airborne eDNA samples collected in a mixed forest in Denmark, researchers detected a total of 64 bird, mammal, fish, and amphibian taxa. The study highlights the potential of airborne eDNA for high-resolution biomonitoring and its importance in global nature management and conservation efforts.
MOLECULAR ECOLOGY RESOURCES
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Multidisciplinary
Qi Xia, Zeyi Tao, Qun Li
Summary: Deep learning has gained popularity recently, but distributed systems may face Byzantine attacks. To address this threat, two efficient algorithms, FABA and VBOR, are proposed, demonstrating superior performance in experiments.
IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON NETWORK SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Alejandro Garcia, M. Estrella Santamaria, Isabel Diaz, Manuel Martinez
Summary: The study reveals that transcriptomic meta-analysis is an effective approach to uncover physiological processes in plant responses to herbivores. Analysis of Arabidopsis-thaliana interactions with pests highlights key issues in plant responses, such as the specificity of perception and signaling pathways, and the variability in secondary metabolic pathways.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Horticulture
Dedong Min, Zilong Li, Xiaodong Fu, Fujun Li, Xiaoan Li, Jinhua Zuo, Xinhua Zhang
Summary: The study found that MeJA treatment can enhance tomato fruit resistance against Botrytis cinerea by activating hormone and autophagy pathways, and further strengthen resistance by regulating oxidative stress metabolism.
SCIENTIA HORTICULTURAE
(2022)
Review
Plant Sciences
Alejandra Castrejon-Varela, Blanca Perez-Garcia, Jose A. Guerrero-Analco, Klaus Mehltreter
Summary: Ferns have developed chemical defenses to protect against herbivorous insects. This review summarizes the distribution and characteristics of five groups of biomolecules that act as chemical defenses in ferns. The review also discusses the accumulation of heavy metals in ferns as another defense mechanism. Future research in this ecologically important field is encouraged.
AMERICAN FERN JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Meng Zhao, Michael T. Woodside
Summary: Unusual knot-like structures in viral exoribonuclease-resistant RNAs prevent digestion by host RNases to enhance infection. Unfolding a Zika virus xrRNA with optical tweezers revealed it as the most mechanically stable RNA observed, with a knot formed by threading the 5' end into a three-helix junction to generate extreme force resistance. The pseudoknot and tertiary contacts stabilizing the threaded 5' end were essential for RNase resistance.
NATURE CHEMICAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Eunice Karinho-Betancourt, Alejandra Vazquez-Lobo, Juan Nunez-Farfan
Summary: Macroevolutionary patterns in the association between plant species and their herbivores are influenced by ecological divergence driven by plant defenses, nutritional quality, and herbivore adaptations. This study examined the performance of two herbivores, Lema trilineata daturaphila, a specialist on Datura, and Spodoptera frugiperda, a generalist pest, when fed with different species of Datura. The results showed that Datura species varied in their suitability as food host for the two herbivores, with the specialist performing better overall. The herbivores' performance was associated with plant defenses, such as leaf trichomes and tropane alkaloids, as well as nutrient characteristics.
Article
Plant Sciences
Wenjuan Ma, Juan Yue, Shu Liang, Meng Gao, Xin Wang, Na Cui, Hongyu Li, Dejuan Zhi
Summary: The study investigated the immune responses of realgar in C. elegans against Enterococcus faecalis, showing that realgar enhances defenses against gram-negative bacteria by inducing immune responses and protective responses. The antibacterial effect of realgar was mainly regulated by the p38 MAPK pathway and DAF-16.
JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Entomology
Rocio Escobar-Bravo, Charlotte Nederpel, Sofia Naranjo, Hye Kyong Kim, Maria Jose Rodriguez-Lopez, Gang Chen, Gaetan Glauser, Kirsten A. Leiss, Peter G. L. Klinkhamer
Summary: Supplemental UV radiation can enhance chrysanthemum plant resistance to Western flower thrips, with shorter exposure times proving more effective while longer exposure times have the opposite effect. The induction of plant resistance to thrips by UV is genotype-dependent and can persist after treatment, but is not passed on to the next generation. UV exposure slightly affects leaf metabolome and enhances the induction of defense mechanisms against thrips in chrysanthemum plants.
JOURNAL OF PEST SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Computer Science, Interdisciplinary Applications
Guilherme A. B. Pereira, Antonio A. C. Vieira, Ricardo J. Machado, Bruno L. S. Ferreira, Luis M. S. Dias, Jose A. Oliveira
Summary: This paper introduces a tool that allows students and professors to use Activity Cycle Diagrams (ACDs) for system modeling and simulation experiments, in order to enhance the understanding of fundamental simulation concepts. This tool facilitates a comprehensive understanding of real systems and provides an appropriate teaching and learning strategy.
JOURNAL OF SIMULATION
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Josef J. Gross, Pierre Mateo, Dietmar Ramhold, Ewald Kramer, Matthias Erb, Christelle A. M. Robert
Summary: This study investigates the metabolization of benzoxazinoids (BXs) in silages of two maize genotypes during aerobic deterioration. It finds that the concentration of BXs in silage decreases over time in the wild type maize, while the concentration increases in mutant maize. Aerobic stability is influenced by BXs, and the nutrient composition is not affected. Further research is needed under different conditions.
JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Review
Plant Sciences
Po-An Lin, Jessica Kansman, Wen-Po Chuang, Christelle Robert, Matthias Erb, Gary W. Felton
Summary: Water availability has a significant impact on plant-herbivore interactions. This review summarizes recent research on the effects of water availability on plant antiherbivore defense and the physiological processes involved. Water deficit tends to enhance certain defense traits but negatively affects others, and the impact of water availability on species interactions and plant evolution is discussed. However, there is a lack of study on the interactive impact of additional abiotic stressors on water-plant-herbivore interactions.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Rocio Escobar-Bravo, Po-An Lin, Jamie M. Waterman, Matthias Erb
Summary: Plants shape terrestrial ecosystems through physical and chemical interactions, particularly through their volatile organic compounds, which influence the behavior and performance of other organisms. This review discusses the production, release, and regulation of vegetative plant volatiles, as well as their effects on various organisms. Concepts such as multifunctionality of specialized metabolites, chemical communication displays, and volatile physiochemistry can help explain and predict the evolution and expression patterns of vegetative plant volatiles. The multifaceted roles of vegetative plant volatiles provide opportunities to understand ecosystem dynamics and utilize them for sustainable agriculture.
NATURAL PRODUCT REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Zoology
Kajol Y. Adav, Aashaq Hussain Bhat, Joaquin A. Bolafia, Ricardo A. R. M. Achado, Shaheen Majeed W. Ani, Ashok Kumar C. Haubey
Summary: Two populations of Panagrolaimus nematodes were found in infected slugs from India, and their morphological characteristics were compared with populations from China, Bulgaria, and Iran. Molecular analysis supported the morphological findings, suggesting that the Indian populations belong to the species P. labiatus. Furthermore, the study proposed P. burdwanensis as a junior synonym of P. labiatus, highlighting the importance of combining morphological and molecular data for the accurate description of soil microfauna.
Article
Zoology
Aashaq Hussain Bhat, Ameni Loulou, Joaquin Abolafia, Ricardo A. R. Machado, Sadreddine Kallel
Summary: Four populations of Acrobeloides nematodes were isolated from Tunisian soils. Two populations were identified as A. tricornis and the other two as A. bodenheimeri based on morphological and morphometric data. Molecular characterization using different gene sequences showed that the mtCO1 gene has greater resolving power than nuclear rRNA gene sequences in differentiating closely related species in the genus Acrobeloides.
Article
Plant Sciences
Caiqiong Yang, Yuechen Bai, Rayko Halitschke, Klaus Gase, Gundega Baldwin, Ian T. T. Baldwin
Summary: Plants use limited resources to produce toxic defenses in response to challenges from herbivores and competitors. Jasmonate signaling, mediated by MYC2 transcription factors, helps reconfigure metabolism to minimize defense costs and optimize fitness in complex environments. In this study, NaMYC2a/b genes were silenced in Nicotiana attenuata, resulting in higher growth and fitness in environments with reduced herbivores but lower fitness in high herbivore-load environments. The presence of competitors and mobile herbivores led to lower fitness in single-genotype setups but increased fitness in mixed-genotype setups. MYC2 TFs play a crucial role in the reconfiguration of primary and specialized metabolism for plants to optimize their fitness in complex environments.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ameni Loulou, Maristella Mastore, Sara Caramella, Aashaq Hussain Bhat, Maurizio Francesco Brivio, Ricardo A. R. Machado, Sadreddine Kallel
Summary: This study isolated and identified several bacterial species associated with soil-borne nematodes, and found that they are highly entomopathogenic. The results suggest the potential use of these bacteria as biocontrol agents in environmentally friendly and sustainable agriculture.
Article
Management
Esther Adot, Anna Akhmedova, Helena Alvelos, Sofia Barbosa-Pereira, Jasmina Berbegal-Mirabent, Sonia Cardoso, Pedro Domingues, Fiorenzo Franceschini, Dolors Gil-Domenech, Ricardo Machado, Domenico Augusto Maisano, Frederic Marimon, Marta Mas-Machuca, Luca Mastrogiacomo, Ana I. I. Melo, Vera Migueis, Maria J. J. Rosa, Paulo Sampaio, Dani Torrents, Ana Raquel Xambre
Summary: The study aims to define a set of indicators to assess the quality performance of higher education institutions (HEI). Through analyzing the official websites and documentation of 36 selected HEIs, as well as conducting interviews with high managers, a total of 525 indicators were identified. These indicators were classified and grouped to create a dashboard instrument with 56 key performance indicators, providing a holistic view to monitor HEI quality.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF QUALITY & RELIABILITY MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Ricardo A. R. Machado, Aashaq H. Bhat, Patrick Fallet, Ted C. J. Turlings, Joelle Kajuga, Xun Yan, Stefan Toepfer
Summary: Four Gram-negative bacterial strains isolated from Steinernema africanum entomopathogenic nematodes were identified as a novel subspecies within the genus Xenorhabdus, named X. bovienii subsp. africana subsp. nov, with the type strain XENO-1(T). The strains exhibited a high similarity to X. bovienii T228(T) but showed distinct physiological profiles. The taxonomic position was determined by 16S rRNA gene sequencing, whole genome-based phylogenetic reconstructions, and ANI and dDDH values calculation.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SYSTEMATIC AND EVOLUTIONARY MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Mengyu Liu, Gaojie Hong, Huijing Li, Xiaoli Bing, Yumeng Chen, Xiangfeng Jing, Jonathan Gershenzon, Yonggen Lou, Ian T. Baldwin, Ran Li
Summary: Plants produce chemical defenses to poison or deter insect herbivores, but these defenses may also affect the beneficial endosymbionts of the herbivores. This study found that rice produces an antifungal flavonoid phytoalexin in response to attack by a pest, which inhibits the pest's beneficial endosymbionts.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Ricardo A. R. Machado, Aashaq Hussain Bhat, Carlos Castaneda-Alvarez, Tarique Hassan Askary, Vladimir Puza, Sylvie Pages, Joaquin Abolafia
Summary: Three new Xenorhabdus species were discovered based on phylogenomic reconstructions, sequence identity scores, and phenotypic characterization. XENO-2(T) and XENO-10(T) are closely related to Xenorhabdus japonica DSM 16522(T), while XENO-7(T) is closely related to Xenorhabdus bovienii subsp. africana XENO-1(T) and X. bovienii subsp. bovienii T228(T). The newly described species show high pathogenicity to G. mellonella larvae and exhibit specific growth conditions and biochemical characteristics. The study enhances our understanding of the biodiversity and phylogenetic relationships of entomopathogenic bacteria.
CURRENT MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Gaochen Jin, Jinfeng Qi, Hongyue Zu, Shuting Liu, Jonathan Gershenzon, Yonggen Lou, Ian T. Baldwin, Ran Li
Summary: Plant defense against herbivores is costly and often leads to growth repression. The phytohormone jasmonate (JA) plays a key role in prioritizing defense over growth during herbivore attack, but the mechanisms are not well understood. This study demonstrates that JA signaling enhances gibberellin (GA) catabolism mediated by GA2ox enzymes, resulting in growth inhibition in rice plants attacked by brown planthoppers (BPH). JA signaling activates defense responses and GA catabolism concurrently, optimizing resource allocation in attacked plants and providing a mechanism for phytohormone crosstalk.
Article
Plant Sciences
Suhua Li, Gundega Baldwin, Caiqiong Yang, Ruirui Lu, Shuaishuai Meng, Jianbei Huang, Ming Wang, Ian T. Baldwin
Summary: The study reveals the impact of factors such as day length, UV radiation, and light intensity on plant growth and adaptation through the investigation of differentially expressed gene irMAX2. The research also emphasizes the importance of studying gene function in natural environments.
PLANT CELL AND ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
