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Biological Impact of Benzoxazinoid Metabolization by a Specialist Root Herbivore

Project description

Role of benzoxazinoid metabolisation in root herbivore defence

Some herbivores can appropriate plant secondary metabolites and employ them for their own defence. However, understanding the effect of such compounds on herbivores and their ability to resist natural enemies is still limited, especially for root herbivores. The EU-funded BISEM project will investigate the effect of benzoxazinoid N-glycosylation on the western corn rootworm Diabrotica virgifera virgifera, a major pest of maize that sequesters benzoxazinoids from maize roots. The research fellow will combine mass spectrometry imaging with environmental RNAi and ecological assays to determine how the formation of N-glycosylated benzoxazinoids affects herbivore performance and resistance to entomopathogenic nematodes. Hence, BISEM will reveal the importance of plant defence sequestration for root-feeding insects, plant-insect interactions and crop protection.

Objective

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 and natural enemy resistance in still not well understood, especially for root herbivores. The objective of this project is to investigate the biological relevance of benzoxazinoid N-glycosylation by the western corn rootworm Diabrotica virgifera virgifera, one of the main pests of maize that sequesters benzoxazinoids from maize roots. To reach this aim, the project will combine mass spectrometry imaging with environmental RNAi and ecological assays to understand how the formation of N-glycosylated benzoxazinoids affects herbivore performance and resistance to entomopathogenic nematodes. This will be the first study to investigate the relevance of secondary metabolite sequestration in a root pest through molecular manipulation. This project will shed light on the importance of plant defense sequestration for root-feeding insects, for plant-insect interactions and for crop protection.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

Keywords

Programme(s)

Topic(s)

Funding Scheme

MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)

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Call for proposal

(opens in new window) H2020-MSCA-IF-2020

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Coordinator

UNIVERSITAET BERN
Net EU contribution
€ 203 149,44
Address
HOCHSCHULSTRASSE 6
3012 Bern
Switzerland
Region
Schweiz/Suisse/Svizzera Espace Mittelland Bern / Berne
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Links
Total cost
€ 203 149,44