title: Expression of lima bean terpene synthases in rice enhances recruitment of a beneficial enemy of a major rice pest.
abstract: Volatile terpenoids play a key role in plant defence against herbivory by attracting parasitic wasps. We identified seven terpene synthase genes from lima bean, Phaseolus lunatus L. following treatment with either the elicitor alamethicin or spider mites, Tetranychus cinnabarinus. Four of the genes (Pltps2, Pltps3, Pltps4 and Pltps5) were up-regulated with their derived proteins phylogenetically clustered in the TPS-g subfamily and PlTPS3 positioned at the base of this cluster. Recombinant PlTPS3 was able to convert geranyl diphosphate and farnesyl diphosphate to linalool and (E)-nerolidol, the latter being precursor of the homoterpene (E)-4,8-dimethyl-1,3,7-nonatriene (DMNT). Recombinant PlTPS4 showed a different substrate specificity and produced linalool and (E)-nerolidol, as well as (E,E)-geranyllinalool from geranylgeranyl diphosphate. Transgenic rice expressing Pltps3 emitted significantly more (S)-linalool and DMNT than wild-type plants, whereas transgenic rice expressing Pltps4 produced (S)-linalool, DMNT and (E,E)-4,8,12-trimethyl-1,3,7,11-tridecatetraene (TMTT). In laboratory bioassays, female Cotesia chilonis, the natural enemy of the striped rice stemborer, Chilo suppressalis, were significantly attracted to the transgenic plants and their volatiles. We further confirmed this with synthetic blends mimicking natural rice volatile composition. Our study demonstrates that the transformation of rice to produce volatile terpenoids has the potential to enhance plant indirect defence through natural enemy recruitment.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, No. 2 West Yuanmingyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100193, China.|Institute of Plant and Environment Protection, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing, 100097, China.
authors.forename: Fengqi
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Huazhong Agricultural University, No. 1 Shizishan Street, Hongshan District, Wuhan, Hubei Province, 430070, China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Huazhong Agricultural University, No. 1 Shizishan Street, Hongshan District, Wuhan, Hubei Province, 430070, China.
authors.forename: Yong-Jun
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Chemistry and Crop Protection, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, Hertfordshire, AL5 2JQ, UK.
authors.forename: John A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Pickett
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Chemistry and Crop Protection, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, Hertfordshire, AL5 2JQ, UK.
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Birkett
authors.affiliation: Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, No. 2 West Yuanmingyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100193, China.
authors.forename: Kongming
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, No. 2 West Yuanmingyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100193, China.
authors.forename: Guirong
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Chemistry and Crop Protection, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, Hertfordshire, AL5 2JQ, UK.
authors.forename: Jing-Jiang
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8203-601X
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Zhou
mesh_terms: D019883:Alkyl and Aryl Transferases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D007887:Fabaceae / Q000201:enzymology*; D005260:Female; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D017343:Genes, Plant; D012275:Oryza / Q000235:genetics* / Q000469:parasitology*; D010271:Parasites / Q000502:physiology; D010802:Phylogeny; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds / Q000378:metabolism; D014863:Wasps / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D010940:Plant Proteins; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds; D019883:Alkyl and Aryl Transferases; C108877:terpene synthase
keywords: (E)-4,8-dimethyl-1,3,7-nonatriene (DMNT); parasitic wasp; transgenic rice