Biological Impact of Benzoxazinoid Metabolization by a Specialist Root Herbivore

Informazioni relative al progetto

BISEM

ID dell’accordo di sovvenzione: 101024269

DOI

10.3030/101024269

Progetto chiuso

Data della firma CE 22 Marzo 2021

Data di avvio 1 Giugno 2021

Data di completamento 31 Maggio 2023

Finanziato da

• EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Costo totale

€ 203 149,44

Contributo UE

€ 203 149,44

Coordinato da

UNIVERSITAET BERN
Switzerland

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - BISEM (Biological Impact of Benzoxazinoid Metabolization by a Specialist Root Herbivore)

Periodo di rendicontazione: 2021-06-01 al 2023-05-31

Sintesi del contesto e degli obiettivi generali del progetto

Some herbivores can sequester and use plant secondary metabolites for their own defense. Despite many examples of sequestration, the impact of these compounds on herbivore performance is still not well understood, especially for root feeding insects. Diabrotica virgifera virgifera, or Western Corn Rootworms (WCR), the model species of BISEM, is a maize specialist and is able to detoxify the degradation product of benzoxazinoids, the (MBOA). This lipophilic compound is toxic to most insect herbivores, but WCR is able to convert it to MBOA-Glc, by adding a glucose molecule and stabilizing it to a hydrophilic compound. MBOA-Glc has been shown to be present in the cuticle and feces of these larvae and it is repellent to the major enemy of WCR, entomopathogenic nematodes. The main objective of this project was to investigate the impact of benzoxazinoids on the biology of the WCR, one of the major pests of maize crops that sequesters benzoxazinoids from maize root. Through molecular manipulation, we investigated the impact of these secondary metabolites in this sequestering root pest.

Lavoro eseguito dall’inizio del progetto fino alla fine del periodo coperto dalla relazione e principali risultati finora ottenuti

During its term, the BISEM project established a protocol to silence D. virgifera genes using dsRNA and artificial diet and developed first insights into the potential role of different candidate genes in MBOA-Glc formation by. D. virgifera. Detoxification genes, such as UGTs, are ubiquitous in all organisms, and are important in many physiological processes, not just metabolization of specialized plant metabolites. With the organization and annotation of the UGTs in D. virgifera, it opened other possibilities of understanding the importance of this group of genes in the biological and ecological aspects of the larvae.

Progressi oltre lo stato dell’arte e potenziale impatto previsto (incluso l’impatto socioeconomico e le implicazioni sociali più ampie del progetto fino ad ora)

Sustainable agriculture is one of the hot subjects in the field of plant and insect interactions, due to the necessity of protecting crops from pests without harming the environment and human health. The results obtained from BISEM are an important step to understand the main pest of maize crops in the Northern Hemisphere, and consequently provide foundation for crop protection strategies. Strategies such as silencing key genes through dsRNA is already a widespread strategy to counter pests, and silencing genes that are involved in sequestration of chemical protection against their enemies could be a promising method in the future.

Overview of the project. Each Work Package represents a objective of the project.