Accumulation of amino acids and phenolic compounds in biochemical plant responses to feeding of two different herbivorous arthropod pests

Katarzyna Golan,Paweł Czerniewicz,Bogumił Leszczyński,Katarzyna Kmieć,Izabela Kot,Cezary Sempruch,Klaudia Magierowicz,Bożena Łagowska,Edyta Górska-Drabik

doi:10.1007/s11829-017-9522-8

Abstract

The study aimed at comparing the changes in the content of free amino acids, phenolic compounds and the activity of PAL and TAL caused by two piercing-sucking arthropods: the grape mealybug (Pseudococcus maritimus Ehrh.) and the two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae Koch) in the leaves of orchid and strawberry, respectively. The obtained results show that the amino acid content and the ratio of amino acids to phenolic compounds increased in both plant species infested by the mealybug and the mite. However, such response was weakly dependent on changes in activity of the analysed enzymes. The pest feeding affected accumulation of the phenolic compounds, since the induction of the PAL activity in mealybug-infested orchid leaves during the first 5 h of the experiment preceded the increase in phenolic compounds during the first week of insect feeding. Instead, the increased activity of TAL was accompanied by elevated levels of phenolic compounds in the leaves of strawberry infested by mites. Mechanisms of biochemical plant responses induced by infestation of the studied herbivorous arthropods are discussed.

Highlights

Amino acids and phenolic compounds play different roles in plant metabolism and biochemical defence against herbivorous arthropods
The study aimed at comparing the changes in the content of free amino acids, phenolic compounds and the activity of Phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) and that Ltyrosine ammonia-lyase (TAL) caused by two piercingsucking arthropods: the grape mealybug (Pseudococcus maritimus Ehrh.) and the two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae Koch) in the leaves of orchid and strawberry, respectively
Proteomic analysis of biochemical changes in Pisum sativum (L.) infested by the pea aphid showed that the resistant pea cv. was characterised by: the reduction of proteins related to photosynthesis and amino acid biosynthesis, increased accumulation of wound signal molecules, such as lipoxygenases and leucine aminopeptidases, and activation of the ascorbate–glutathione cycle, while the susceptible cv. showed an increase in the primary metabolism pathway

Summary

Introduction

Amino acids and phenolic compounds play different roles in plant metabolism and biochemical defence against herbivorous arthropods. The level of these compounds is increased in plant tissues infested by piercing-sucking insects (Sempruch et al 2011). This response results from the stimulation of nutrient flow to the feeding places of aphids in order to maintain the sustenance. Such tendency was observed in different plant species infested by Elatobium abietinum (Walk.), Aphis fabae (Scop.), Diuraphis noxia (Kord.), Rhopalosiphum padi (L.), Sitobion avenae (F.), Shizaphis graminum (Rond.) and Bemisia tabaci (Genn.)—Blackmer and Byrne (1999), Sandstrom et al (2000), and Sempruch et al (2011). Proteomic analysis of biochemical changes in Pisum sativum (L.) infested by the pea aphid showed that the resistant pea cv. was characterised by: the reduction of proteins related to photosynthesis and amino acid biosynthesis, increased accumulation of wound signal molecules, such as lipoxygenases and leucine aminopeptidases, and activation of the ascorbate–glutathione cycle, while the susceptible cv. showed an increase in the primary metabolism pathway ( amino acid biosynthesis; Carillo et al 2013)

Methods

Results

Conclusion