Article
Plant Sciences
Mei Luo, Bin Li, Georg Jander, Shaoqun Zhou
Summary: Non-volatile metabolites play a crucial role in plant-insect interactions, serving as both nutrients and defensive compounds. Functional genetics studies have identified receptors targeting plant non-volatile metabolites in insects, while the understanding of plant receptors for insect-derived molecules is limited. Insect feeding induces changes in plant specialized metabolism, but the effects on core metabolism vary among species. Furthermore, non-volatile metabolites can facilitate tripartite communication in plant communities through direct root-to-root communication and interactions with parasitic plants, mycorrhizae, and the rhizosphere microbiome.
Article
Ecology
Thomas S. Davis, Jane E. Stewart, Caitlin Clark, Charlene Van Buiten
Summary: In this study, yeast associates of the North American spruce beetle were characterized and it was found that Wickerhamomyces canadensis was the most common species. It was observed that W. canadensis had inhibitory effects on the growth of symbiotic and pathogenic fungi. The volatile compound 2-phenylethanol produced by W. canadensis also negatively affected the growth of associated fungi.
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Drajat Martianto, Atikah Bararah, Nuri Andarwulan, Dominika srednicka-Tober
Summary: This study investigated plant sterols intake and food sources in Bogor, Indonesia, revealing an average intake of 229.76 mg/day mainly from cereals, vegetables, and fruit products. A list of potential plant sterol-enriched food items was developed for future functional food development in Indonesia. Further research is needed to confirm the efficacy and safety of introducing such products into habitual diets.
Review
Chemistry, Medicinal
Elyas Nattagh-Eshtivani, Hanieh Barghchi, Naseh Pahlavani, Mehdi Barati, Yasaman Amiri, Abdulmannan Fadel, Maryam Khosravi, Saeedeh Talebi, Pishva Arzhang, Rahele Ziaei, Abed Ghavami
Summary: Phytosterols, classified into plant sterols and stanols, have various pharmacological properties such as reducing cholesterol levels and cardiovascular disease risk. They also have other health-promoting effects. This review provides an overview of their therapeutic potential for human health and safety and explores factors influencing physiological response to Phytosterols.
PHYTOTHERAPY RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Entomology
Fatma Boukid, Jordi Riudavets, Lidia del Arco, Massimo Castellari
Summary: Insects are a potential source of lipids, with fatty acid compositions and sterols varying depending on diet composition and species. H. illucens has low cholesterol but high campesterol and beta-sitosterol levels, while T. molitor and E. kuehniella have high cholesterol and low campesterol contents. Rearing insects on agro-industrial by-products can be a sustainable strategy for the circular economy, providing valuable fat sources for humans and animals.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Yuyuan Hu, Chuanguo Ma, Ruinan Yang, Shujing Guo, Tong Wang, Jun Liu
Summary: The aim of this study is to investigate the molecular interaction between phytosterol glycosyl derivatives and bile salts, and their impact on cholesterol solubilization. It was found that the introduction of phytosterol glycosyl derivatives into cholesterol-loaded bile salt micelles resulted in a sharp decrease in cholesterol solubility, along with changes in micelle properties. Nuclear magnetic resonance revealed that the structural change was caused by the insertion of beta-sitosterol glycosyl derivatives via hydrogen bonds with sodium taurocholate. The glycosyl moiety of beta-sitosterol glycosyl derivatives significantly influenced the hydrogen-bond interactions.
FOOD RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Nia M. Johnson, Regina S. Baucom
Summary: This study investigated the impact of herbicide drift on plant-herbivore interactions and found that it significantly increased the abundance of silverleaf whitefly. The study also revealed a trade-off between resistance to herbicide and whitefly, as well as a positive correlation between whitefly abundance and chlorophyll content. Overall, the research suggests that herbicide exposure to non-target communities can alter herbivore populations and potentially affect biodiversity and weed population dynamics at agricultural interfaces.
Article
Ecology
Timothy P. Craig, Joanne K. Itami
Summary: A geographic mosaic of coevolution in tall goldenrod and goldenrod ball-gall fly has led to local reciprocal adaptation. Through a reciprocal transplant experiment, the study found that host plant gall diameter induced by the fly population and gall size induced by the plant host population play a role in inhibiting natural enemies and resisting gall growth, respectively. This study revealed geographic variations in the coevolutionary arms races between flies and plants, as well as differences in gall length and shape due to other factors.
Article
Ecology
Vincent Droissart, Laura Azandi, Eric Rostand Onguene, Marie Savignac, Thomas B. Smith, Vincent Deblauwe
Summary: The article introduces an inexpensive (<100 USD) DIY CT system called PICT, designed to continuously film animal activity, particularly suitable for studying pollination, insect behavior, and predator-prey interactions. The system offers adjustable focus distance, infrared illumination, user-set frame rate, resolution, and video compression levels, as well as remote control capability.
METHODS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Anurag A. Agrawal, Laura Espinosa Del Alba, Xose Lopez-Goldar, Amy P. Hastings, Ronald A. White, Rayko Halitschke, Susanne Dobler, Georg Petschenka, Christophe Duplais
Summary: This study reveals an increase in cardenolide concentrations in common milkweed seeds towards the host's range center, with an exception of labriformin which peaked at higher latitudes. The specialist lygaeid bugs and monarch butterflies differ in their tolerance to cardenolides, with Oncopeltus showing greater tolerance to labriformin. Metabolized cardenolides were found to be less toxic than their parent compounds.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Review
Plant Sciences
Yuzu Sakata
Summary: The review discussed the impact of biological invasions on plant defense traits and geographic variation in plant-herbivore interactions. Studies have shown that unraveling the mechanisms and temporal scale can provide new insights into understanding geographic variation in plant-herbivore interactions.
PLANT SPECIES BIOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Microbiology
A. M. Pirttila, V. Brusila, J. J. Koskimaki, P. R. Wali, A. L. Ruotsalainen, M. Mutanen, A. M. Markkola
Summary: Prokaryotic and eukaryotic microbial symbiotic communities exist across different kingdoms, extending the host genome and aiding adaptation to changing environments. Plants and insects carry a variety of microbes on their surfaces, internally, and even within cells, with the insect gut being a selective environment. Despite their high dependence and frequent interaction, it remains uncertain how much plants and insects exchange and modify each other's microbiomes. This review focuses on herbivores that feed on plants in forest ecosystems, discussing the plant microbiome, overlap with insect microbial communities, and the effects of microbiome exchange on each host's fitness.
Article
Ecology
Manu E. E. Saunders, Liam K. K. Kendall, Jose B. B. Lanuza, Mark A. A. Hall, Romina Rader, Jamie R. R. Stavert
Summary: Understanding how climate influences plant-pollinator interactions is crucial. This study found that climate strongly affects the roles of different pollinator taxa within networks, with non-bee taxa playing central roles across most climate zones.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Virginia Blanco-Morales, Ramona de los Angeles Silvestre, Elena Hernandez-Alvarez, Encarnacion Donoso-Navarro, Amparo Alegria, Guadalupe Garcia-Llatas
Summary: This study demonstrates the feasibility of simultaneous enrichment with PS and GOS in milk-based fruit beverages, which has a hypocholesterolemic effect.
JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Review
Plant Sciences
Shaoqun Zhou, Georg Jander
Summary: Plant-derived volatile organic compounds play key roles in interactions with insect herbivores, acting as toxic or deterrent agents, signal molecules, and priming signals for plant tissues. The functions of VOC blends are strongly influenced by environmental conditions and specific plant-insect interactions. The complexity of plant-insect chemical communication via VOCs is enriched by the sophisticated molecular perception mechanisms of insects, which influence insect behavior in ways that are not fully understood.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Rebecca M. Clark, Anthony J. Zera, Spencer T. Behmer
FUNCTIONAL ECOLOGY
(2016)
Article
Entomology
Carrie A. Deans, Gregory A. Sword, Spencer T. Behmer
JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY
(2015)
Article
Ecology
Rebecca M. Clark, Ashley McConnell, Anthony J. Zera, Spencer T. Behmer
FUNCTIONAL ECOLOGY
(2013)
Article
Ecology
Karl A. Roeder, Spencer T. Behmer
FUNCTIONAL ECOLOGY
(2014)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Carrie A. Deans, Spencer T. Behmer, Adam Kay, Neal Voelz
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Xiangfeng Jing, Heiko Vogel, Robert J. Grebenok, Keyan Zhu-Salzman, Spencer T. Behmer
INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
(2012)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Xiangfeng Jing, Robert J. Grebenok, Spencer T. Behmer
INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
(2013)
Article
Entomology
S. C. Cook, R. A. Wynalda, R. E. Gold, S. T. Behmer
Article
Zoology
Marion Le Gall, Spencer T. Behmer
INTEGRATIVE AND COMPARATIVE BIOLOGY
(2014)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Brian M. Thompson, Robert J. Grebenok, Spencer T. Behmer, Daniel S. Gruner
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL ECOLOGY
(2013)
Article
Entomology
Sophie Bouvaine, Spencer T. Behmer, George G. Lin, Marie-Line Faure, Robert J. Grebenok, Angela E. Douglas
JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY
(2012)
Article
Entomology
Xiangfeng Jing, Robert J. Grebenok, Spencer T. Behmer
JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY
(2014)
Article
Ecology
Paul A. Lenhart, Micky D. Eubanks, Spencer T. Behmer
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sophie Bouvaine, Marie-Line Faure, Robert J. Grebenok, Spencer T. Behmer, Angela E. Douglas
Article
Plant Sciences
Spencer T. Behmer, Nathan Olszewski, John Sebastiani, Sydney Palka, Gina Sparacino, Elizabeth Sciarrno, Robert J. Grebenok
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2013)