title: Genetic engineering of plant volatile terpenoids: effects on a herbivore, a predator and a parasitoid.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Most insect-resistant transgenic crops employ toxins to control pests. A novel approach is to enhance the effectiveness of natural enemies by genetic engineering of the biosynthesis of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Before the commercialisation of such transgenic plants can be pursued, detailed fundamental studies of their effects on herbivores and their natural enemies are necessary. The linalool/nerolidol synthase gene FaNES1 was constitutively expressed from strawberry in three Arabidopsis thaliana accessions, and the behaviour of the aphid Brevicoryne brassicae L., the parasitoid Diaeretiella rapae McIntosh and the predator Episyrphus balteatus de Geer was studied.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Transgenic FaNES1-expressing plants emitted (E)-nerolidol and larger amounts of (E)-DMNT and linalool. Brevicoryne brassicae was repelled by the transgenic lines of two of the accessions, whereas its performance was not affected. Diaeretiella rapae preferred aphid-infested transgenic plants over aphid-infested wild-type plants for two of the accessions. In contrast, female E. balteatus predators did not differentiate between aphid-infested transgenic or wild-type plants.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results indicate that the genetic engineering of plants to modify their emission of VOCs holds considerable promise for facilitating biological control of herbivores. Validation for crop plants is a necessary next step to assess the usefulness of modified volatile emission in integrated pest management.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands. M.Kos@nioo.knaw.nl
authors.forename: Martine
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kos
authors.forename: Benyamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Houshyani
authors.forename: Aart-Jan
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Overeem
authors.forename: Harro J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Bouwmeester
authors.forename: Berhane T
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Weldegergis
authors.forename: Joop J A
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: van Loon
authors.forename: Marcel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dicke
authors.forename: Louise E M
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Vet
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001042:Aphids / Q000469:parasitology / Q000502:physiology*; D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000469:parasitology; D004175:Diptera / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D031985:Fragaria / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics; D005818:Genetic Engineering; D060434:Herbivory / Q000502:physiology*; D006836:Hydro-Lyases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010572:Pest Control, Biological / Q000379:methods*; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000469:parasitology; D013729:Terpenes / Q000378:metabolism*; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds / Q000378:metabolism*; D014863:Wasps / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D010940:Plant Proteins; D013729:Terpenes; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds; D006836:Hydro-Lyases; C092055:S-linalool synthase