The beneficial effects of the tobacco hydroperoxide lyase pathway in whitefly host adaptation

Abstract

Plants respond to herbivore attack by emitting complex mixtures of volatile compounds to repel herbivores or attract predators and parasitoids. In this study, however, we revealed that tobacco green leaf volatiles (GLVs) were beneficial compounds for whitefly adaptation to host plants. Our study indicates that GLVs are closely associated with plant susceptibility to whiteflies. Whitefly infestation elevated the transcript of the hydroperoxide lyase (HPL) gene, one gene responsible for catalyzing the synthesis of C6 or C9 aldehydes from fatty acid hydroperoxides. Overexpression of HPL increased the emission of GLVs (hexanal, 1- hexanal, trans-2- hexanal and cis-3- hexanal) and resulted in improved performance for whiteflies. Exogenous application of GLVs promoted whitefly survival and fecundity and increased the plant's attraction to whiteflies. Thus, our study provides new insights into the role of the HPL pathway and GLVs in influencing herbivore adaptation to host plants.