title: Herbivore cues from the fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) larvae trigger direct defenses in maize.
abstract: In addition to feeding damage, herbivores release cues that are recognized by plants to elicit defenses. Caterpillar oral secretions have been shown to trigger herbivore defense responses in several different plant species. In this study, the effects of two fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) oral secretions (saliva and regurgitant) on caterpillar defense responses in maize (Zea mays) were examined. Only minute amounts of regurgitant were deposited on the maize leaf during larval feeding bouts and its application to leaves failed to induce the expression of several herbivore defense genes. On the other hand, caterpillars consistently deposited saliva on leaves during feeding and the expression of several maize defense genes significantly increased in response to saliva application and larval feeding. However, feeding by ablated caterpillars with impaired salivation did not induce these defenses. Furthermore, bioassays indicated that feeding by unablated caterpillars significantly enhanced defenses when compared with that of ablated caterpillars. Another critical finding was that the maize genotype and stage of development affected the expression of defense genes in response to wounding and regurgitant treatments. These results demonstrate that fall armyworm saliva contains elicitors that trigger herbivore defenses in maize.
authors: Wen-Po
authors: WP
authors: Chuang
authors: Swayamjit
authors: S
authors: Ray
authors: Flor Edith
authors: FE
authors: Acevedo
authors: Michelle
authors: M
authors: Peiffer
authors: Gary W
authors: GW
authors: Felton
authors: Dawn S
authors: DS
authors: Luthe
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003463:Cues; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D005838:Genotype; D060434:Herbivory; D007814:Larva; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000276:immunology* / Q000469:parasitology; D057865:Plant Immunity; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000502:physiology; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D012463:Saliva; D018411:Spodoptera / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D014947:Wounds and Injuries; D003313:Zea mays / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D010940:Plant Proteins