A - Papers appearing in refereed journals
Cascone, P., Vuts, J., Birkett, M. A., Dewhirst, S. Y., Rasmann, S, Pickett, J. A. and Guerrieri, E. 2023. L-DOPA functions as a plant pheromone for belowground anti-herbivory communication. Ecology Letters. 26 (3), pp. 460-469. https://doi.org/10.1111/ele.14164
Authors | Cascone, P., Vuts, J., Birkett, M. A., Dewhirst, S. Y., Rasmann, S, Pickett, J. A. and Guerrieri, E. |
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Abstract | While mechanisms of plant–plant communication for alerting neighbouring plants of an imminent insect herbivore attack have been described aboveground via the production of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), we are yet to decipher the specific components of plant–plant signalling belowground. Using bioassay-guided fractionation, we isolated and identified the non-protein amino acid l-DOPA, released from roots of Acyrtosiphon pisum aphid-infested Vicia faba plants, as an active compound in triggering the production of VOCs released aboveground in uninfested plants. In behavioural assays, we show that after contact with l-DOPA, healthy plants become highly attractive to the aphid parasitoid (Aphidius ervi), as if they were infested by aphids. We conclude that l-DOPA, originally described as a brain neurotransmitter precursor, can also enhance immunity in plants. |
Keywords | Plant–plant signalling; VOC; Root exudates; Plant immunity; Parasitoids; Aphids |
Year of Publication | 2023 |
Journal | Ecology Letters |
Journal citation | 26 (3), pp. 460-469 |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.1111/ele.14164 |
Open access | Published as green open access |
Funder | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council |
Funder project or code | Elucidating the Chemical Ecology of Belowground Plant-Plant Communication [CHECK] |
Accepted author manuscript | Copyright license CC BY |
Output status | Published |
Publication dates | |
Online | 27 Jan 2023 |
Publication process dates | |
Accepted | 22 Dec 2022 |
Publisher | Wiley |
ISSN | 1461-023X |
Permalink - https://repository.rothamsted.ac.uk/item/98v68/l-dopa-functions-as-a-plant-pheromone-for-belowground-anti-herbivory-communication
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