Characterization of Terpene Synthase from Tea Green Leafhopper Being Involved in Formation of Geraniol in Tea (Camellia sinensis) Leaves and Potential Effect of Geraniol on Insect-Derived Endobacteria.

Ying Zhou,Ziyin Yang,Xiaoyu Liu

doi:10.3390/biom9120808

Ying Zhou, Ziyin Yang + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/biom9120808

Copy DOI

Abstract

When insects attack plants, insect-derived elicitors and mechanical damage induce the formation and emission of plant volatiles that have important ecological functions and flavor properties. These events have mainly been studied in model plants, rather than crop plants. Our study showed that tea green leafhopper (Empoasca (Matsumurasca) onukii Matsuda), a major pest infesting tea attack significantly induced the emission of geraniol from tea leaves, but did not affect the crude enzyme activity of geraniol synthase in tea leaves. An enzyme extract of E. (M.) onukii specifically produced geraniol from geraniol diphosphate. Furthermore, a terpene synthase (EoTPS) was isolated from E. (M.) onukii. This terpene synthase was able to convert geraniol diphosphate to geraniol in vitro. In addition, geraniol had in vitro ability to inhibit the growth of Acinetobacter johnsonii that is endobacterial isolated from E. (M.) onukii. This information illustrates that elicitors from piercing-sucking insects can induce the formation of volatiles from crop plants and advances our understanding of the roles of plant volatiles in the interaction among crops-insects-microorganisms.

Highlights

The interaction between insects and plants mediated by plant volatiles has attracted much interest [1,2], and many studies have revealed details of the early and late events related to plant volatile emissions after insect attack [3]
We investigated the effect of E. (M.) onukii infestation on the and emission of geraniol, a volatile monoterpene derived from geraniol diphosphate (GPP)
We conducted these experiments in formation and emission of geraniol, a volatile monoterpene derived from GPP

Summary

Introduction

The interaction between insects and plants mediated by plant volatiles has attracted much interest [1,2], and many studies have revealed details of the early and late events related to plant volatile emissions after insect attack [3]. Continuous mechanical wounding resembling insect feeding can induce the production of volatiles similar to those induced by insects [4,5]. Another important early event in the interaction between insects and plants is the entry of insect-derived elicitors into plant tissues. The most frequently reported insect-derived elicitors that induce the formation and emission of plant volatiles are fatty acid-amino acid conjugates [6,7]. Other elicitors such as β-glucosidase [8], inceptin [9], caeliferins [6], and an unidentified heat-labile constituent [10] have been identified

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion