Abstract
Elicitors are biofactors that induce resistance in plants against different insect pests. This in vitro study evaluated the impact of a novel elicitor protein PeBC1, extracted from a necrotrophic fungus Botrytis cinerea, on the development and fecundity parameters of green peach aphid (Myzus persicae) on common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). Three different concentrations of PeBC1 elicitor (i.e., 33.56, 25.43, 19.33 µg mL−1) were applied at three different temperature regimes (i.e., 18, 21, and 25 °C). Elicitor treatments were applied topically on the bean plants at 3-leaf stage and newly emerged (0–6 h old) apterous adult aphids were exposed to these treated leaves. In addition to the biological parameters of aphids, the relative expression levels of key genes associated with jasmonic acid (JA) and salicylic acid (SA) plant defense pathways were also determined through RT-qPCR. Results of bioassays revealed that the application of PeBC1 elicitor protein exhibited pronounced and significant (p < 0.05) sub-lethal effects on green peach aphids. The fecundity was reduced and the nymphal development time was prolonged by different concentrations of PeBC1 elicitor and temperature regimes. Gene expression studies showed that the exogenous application of PeBC1 induced a significant upregulation of the expression levels of JA and SA pathway-associated genes in bean plants. As compared to control, elicitor-treated plants exhibited an induced resistance against aphids. Our findings suggest the potential use of PeBC1 elicitor protein in future bio-intensive management strategies against sap-sucking insect pests such as green peach aphids.
Highlights
Elicitors are biofactors or chemicals used by plants under attack as signal molecules to induce systemic acquired resistance against pathogens or herbivores by activating different defense pathways [1,2]
In agreement with previous studies, our results suggest that treatment of plants with PeBC1 elicitor has the potential to reduce population growth rates and performance of herbivorous insect pests
We hypothesized a prolonged development time and reduced fecundity of green peach aphids M. persicae mediated by the application of PeBC1 protein elicitor
Summary
Elicitors are biofactors or chemicals used by plants under attack as signal molecules to induce systemic acquired resistance against pathogens or herbivores by activating different defense pathways [1,2]. Elicitors are categorized as microbe-associated molecular patterns (MAMPs), which are usually derived from the microbes and herbivore-associated molecular pattern (HAMPs) produced by herbivorous insect pests. Different types of elicitor proteins (MAMPs) have been identified from fungal (e.g., Pep-13 and endo-β-1,4-xylanases from Phytophthora and Trichoderma, respectively) and bacterial (e.g., flg from bacterial flagella) pathogens [4,5,6]. These elicitors play an important role in crop protection, as they can induce plant resistance to pests, reduce pest fitness, and deter their feeding
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