title: Intraplant communication in maize contributes to defense against insects.
abstract: The vasculature of plants act as a channel for transport of signal(s) that facilitate long-distance intraplant communication. In maize, Maize insect resistance1-Cysteine Protease (Mir1-CP), which has homology to papain-like proteases, provides defense to different feeding guilds of insect pests. Furthermore, accumulation of Mir1-CP in the vasculature suggests that Mir1-CP can potentially function as a phloem-mobile protein. In a recent study, we provided evidence that Mir1-CP can curtail the growth of phloem-sap sucking insect, corn leaf aphid (CLA; Rhopalosiphum maidis). Our current study further examined whether aboveground feeding by CLA can induce resistance to subsequent herbivory by belowground feeding western corn rootworm (WCR; Diabrotica virgifera virgifera). Aboveground feeding by CLA systemically induced the accumulation of Mir1-CP in the roots. Furthermore, foliage feeding by CLA provided enhanced resistance to subsequent herbivory by belowground feeding of WCR. Taken together, our previous findings and results presented here indicate that long-distance transport of Mir1-CP is critical for providing enhanced resistance to insect attack in maize.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Entomology , University of Nebraska-Lincoln , Lincoln , NE , USA.
authors.forename: Suresh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Varsani
authors.affiliation: a Department of Entomology , University of Nebraska-Lincoln , Lincoln , NE , USA.
authors.forename: Saumik
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Basu
authors.affiliation: b USDA-ARS Corn Host Plant Resistance Research Unit, USA , Mississippi State , MS , USA.
authors.forename: W Paul
authors.initials: WP
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.affiliation: c Department of Entomology , Pennsylvania State University , University Park , PA , USA.
authors.forename: Gary W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Felton
authors.affiliation: d Department of Plant Science , Pennsylvania State University, USA , University Park , PA , USA.
authors.forename: Dawn S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Luthe
authors.affiliation: a Department of Entomology , University of Nebraska-Lincoln , Lincoln , NE , USA.|e Department of Biochemistry , University of Nebraska-Lincoln , Lincoln , NE , USA.
authors.forename: Joe
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Louis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001042:Aphids / Q000472:pathogenicity; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D007313:Insecta / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000378:metabolism / Q000469:parasitology; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D003313:Zea mays / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000469:parasitology*
chemical_list: D010940:Plant Proteins
keywords: Corn leaf aphid; Mir1-CP; Zea mays; vascular tissue; western corn rootworm