Limited effects of plant-beneficial fungi on plant volatile composition and host-choice behavior of Nesidiocoris tenuis
Biological control using plant-beneficial fungi has gained considerable interest as a sustainable method for pest management, by priming the plant for enhanced defense against pathogens and insect herbivores. However, despite promising outcomes, little is known about how different fungal strains med...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2024-01-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Plant Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2023.1322719/full |
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| author | Caroline Meesters Caroline Meesters Berhane T. Weldegergis Marcel Dicke Hans Jacquemyn Hans Jacquemyn Bart Lievens Bart Lievens |
| author_facet | Caroline Meesters Caroline Meesters Berhane T. Weldegergis Marcel Dicke Hans Jacquemyn Hans Jacquemyn Bart Lievens Bart Lievens |
| author_sort | Caroline Meesters |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Biological control using plant-beneficial fungi has gained considerable interest as a sustainable method for pest management, by priming the plant for enhanced defense against pathogens and insect herbivores. However, despite promising outcomes, little is known about how different fungal strains mediate these beneficial effects. In this study, we evaluated whether inoculation of tomato seeds with the plant-beneficial fungi Beauveria bassiana ARSEF 3097, Metarhizium brunneum ARSEF 1095 and Trichoderma harzianum T22 affected the plant’s volatile organic compound (VOC) profile and the host-choice behavior of Nesidiocoris tenuis, an emerging pest species in NW-European tomato cultivation, and the related zoophytophagous biocontrol agent Macrolophus pygmaeus. Results indicated that fungal inoculation did not significantly alter the VOC composition of tomato plants. However, in a two-choice cage assay where female insects were given the option to select between control plants and fungus-inoculated plants, N. tenuis preferred control plants over M. brunneum-inoculated plants. Nearly 72% of all N. tenuis individuals tested chose the control treatment. In all other combinations tested, no significant differences were found for none of the insects. We conclude that inoculation of tomato with plant-beneficial fungi had limited effects on plant volatile composition and host-choice behavior of insects. However, the observation that N. tenuis was deterred from the crop when inoculated with M. brunneum and attracted to non-inoculated plants may provide new opportunities for future biocontrol based on a push-pull strategy. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T17:22:07Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c927906e962444b096afe6e3970809f4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-462X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T17:22:07Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Plant Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-c927906e962444b096afe6e3970809f42024-01-03T04:34:40ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Plant Science1664-462X2024-01-011410.3389/fpls.2023.13227191322719Limited effects of plant-beneficial fungi on plant volatile composition and host-choice behavior of Nesidiocoris tenuisCaroline Meesters0Caroline Meesters1Berhane T. Weldegergis2Marcel Dicke3Hans Jacquemyn4Hans Jacquemyn5Bart Lievens6Bart Lievens7Laboratory for Process Microbial Ecology and Bioinspirational Management (PME&BIM), Department of Microbial and Molecular Systems (M2S), KU Leuven, Leuven, BelgiumLeuven Plant Institute (LPI), KU Leuven, Leuven, BelgiumLaboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, NetherlandsLaboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, NetherlandsLeuven Plant Institute (LPI), KU Leuven, Leuven, BelgiumLaboratory of Plant Conservation and Population Biology, Biology Department, KU Leuven, Leuven, BelgiumLaboratory for Process Microbial Ecology and Bioinspirational Management (PME&BIM), Department of Microbial and Molecular Systems (M2S), KU Leuven, Leuven, BelgiumLeuven Plant Institute (LPI), KU Leuven, Leuven, BelgiumBiological control using plant-beneficial fungi has gained considerable interest as a sustainable method for pest management, by priming the plant for enhanced defense against pathogens and insect herbivores. However, despite promising outcomes, little is known about how different fungal strains mediate these beneficial effects. In this study, we evaluated whether inoculation of tomato seeds with the plant-beneficial fungi Beauveria bassiana ARSEF 3097, Metarhizium brunneum ARSEF 1095 and Trichoderma harzianum T22 affected the plant’s volatile organic compound (VOC) profile and the host-choice behavior of Nesidiocoris tenuis, an emerging pest species in NW-European tomato cultivation, and the related zoophytophagous biocontrol agent Macrolophus pygmaeus. Results indicated that fungal inoculation did not significantly alter the VOC composition of tomato plants. However, in a two-choice cage assay where female insects were given the option to select between control plants and fungus-inoculated plants, N. tenuis preferred control plants over M. brunneum-inoculated plants. Nearly 72% of all N. tenuis individuals tested chose the control treatment. In all other combinations tested, no significant differences were found for none of the insects. We conclude that inoculation of tomato with plant-beneficial fungi had limited effects on plant volatile composition and host-choice behavior of insects. However, the observation that N. tenuis was deterred from the crop when inoculated with M. brunneum and attracted to non-inoculated plants may provide new opportunities for future biocontrol based on a push-pull strategy.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2023.1322719/fullBeauveria bassianabiological controlhost-searching behaviorMetarhizium brunneumTrichoderma harzianum |
| spellingShingle | Caroline Meesters Caroline Meesters Berhane T. Weldegergis Marcel Dicke Hans Jacquemyn Hans Jacquemyn Bart Lievens Bart Lievens Limited effects of plant-beneficial fungi on plant volatile composition and host-choice behavior of Nesidiocoris tenuis Frontiers in Plant Science Beauveria bassiana biological control host-searching behavior Metarhizium brunneum Trichoderma harzianum |
| title | Limited effects of plant-beneficial fungi on plant volatile composition and host-choice behavior of Nesidiocoris tenuis |
| title_full | Limited effects of plant-beneficial fungi on plant volatile composition and host-choice behavior of Nesidiocoris tenuis |
| title_fullStr | Limited effects of plant-beneficial fungi on plant volatile composition and host-choice behavior of Nesidiocoris tenuis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Limited effects of plant-beneficial fungi on plant volatile composition and host-choice behavior of Nesidiocoris tenuis |
| title_short | Limited effects of plant-beneficial fungi on plant volatile composition and host-choice behavior of Nesidiocoris tenuis |
| title_sort | limited effects of plant beneficial fungi on plant volatile composition and host choice behavior of nesidiocoris tenuis |
| topic | Beauveria bassiana biological control host-searching behavior Metarhizium brunneum Trichoderma harzianum |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2023.1322719/full |
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