Effects of herbivore-induced rice volatiles on the host selection behavior of brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens

It has been suggested that herbivore would react to volatiles produced by herbivore infested plant due to potential change, either positive or negative, in the acceptability of the host plant. This hypothesis was tested for the brown planthopper (BPH) in the laboratory. Sixteen components of the headspace volatiles from rice seedlings with different treatments were collected with SPME and Tenax-TA trap and analyzed with GC and GC-MS. Significant differences in volatile emissions were observed for rice plants with different treatments. Undamaged control plants, mechanically damaged plants and the plants infested by BPH for 1 or 2 d emitted much lower amounts of volatiles compared to the plants infested by BPH for 3 or 5 d. The plants infested by BPH for 3 or 5 d emitted several volatiles that were not detected in undamaged control plants, mechanically damaged plants or the plants infested by BPH for 1 or 2 d. Spodoptera litura infested plants released much higher amounts of volatiles than those in all other treatments, and the contents of several green leaf volatiles, methyl salicylate and terpenoids increased dramatically. In dual-choice flight tunnel experiments, adult BPH females showed no significant preference between the untreated healthy plants and mechanically damaged plants or the plants infested by BPH adult females. However, rice plants damaged by S. litura had a clearly repellent effects on BPH adult females compared to healthy undamaged plants, mechanically damaged plants or the plants infested by BPH.     

Attractiveness of tobacco volatiles induced by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Helicoverpa armigera</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Helicoverpa assulta</Emphasis> to <Emphasis Type="Italic">Campoletis chlorideae</Emphasis>

The attraction of Helicoverpa armigera-and Helicoverpa assulta-induced and mechanical damage-induced tobacco volatiles to Campoletis chlorideae was investigated, and the induced volatiles were analyzed. In windtunnel, C. chlorideae was strongly attracted by herbivoreinduced tobacco volatiles. Mechanically damaged tobacco leaves, whether treated with caterpillar regurgitant or water,were more attractive to the parasitoid than undamaged tobacco leaves. GC-MS analysis revealed that only 4 compounds were released from undamaged tobacco leaves,whereas 13 compounds were commonly emitted from herbivore-infested and mechanically damaged tobacco leaves.Compound β-pinene was specifically induced by the infestation of H. armigera, and (Z)-3-hexenal was only induced by the infestation of H. armigera and H. assulta, whereas hexyl acetate was only induced by mechanical damage. Tobacco leaves infested by H. armigera and H. assulta released larger amounts of volatiles than undamaged tobacco leaves did.Tobacco leaves treated with artificial damage plus caterpillars regurgitant or water emitted the same levels of volatiles,which were higher than that emitted by undamaged tobacco leaves. The emission amounts of single compounds were also different between differently treated plants. The differences were large between herbivore-induced and mechanical damage-induced compounds, and small between H. armigeraand H.assulta-induced compounds, and among compounds emitted from mechanically damaged plants treated with water or caterpillar regurgitant.     

β-Glucosidase treatment and infestation by the rice brown planthopper Nilaparvata lugens elicit similar signaling pathways in rice plants

β-Glucosidase has been reported to induce the production of herbivore-induced plant volatiles. However, how it works remains unclear. Here, we investigated the levels of salicylic acid （SA）, jasmonic acid （JA）, ethylene, and H2O2, all of which are known signaling molecules that play important roles in induced plant defense in rice plants treated with β-glucosidase, and compared these to levels in plants infested by the rice brown planthopper Nilaparvata lugens （Stal）. Results showed that wounding and treatment by β-glucosidase increased the levels of SA, ethylene, and H2O2, but not JA, in all plants compared to control plants. The signaling pathways activated by β-glucosidase treatment are similar to those activated by an infestation by N. lugens, although the magnitude and timing of the signals elicited by the two treatments are different. This may explain why both treatments have similar volatile profiles and are equally attractive to the parasitoid Anagrus nilaparvatae Pang et Wang.     

Herbivory-induced volatiles elicit defence genes in lima bean leaves

In response to herbivore damage, several plant species emit volatiles that attract natural predators of the attacking herbivores. Using spider mites (Tetranychus urticae) and predatory mites (Phytoseiulus persimilis), it has been shown that not only the attacked plant but also neighbouring plants are affected, becoming more attractive to predatory mites and less susceptible to spider mites. The mechanism involved in such interactions, however, remains elusive. Here we show that uninfested lima bean leaves activate five separate defence genes when exposed to volatiles from conspecific leaves infested with T. urticae, but not when exposed to volatiles from artificially wounded leaves. The expression pattern of these genes is similar to that produced by exposure to jasmonic acid. At least three terpenoids in the volatiles are responsible for this gene activation; they are released in response to herbivory but not artificial wounding. Expression of these genes requires calcium influx and protein phosphorylation/dephosphorylation.     

Transgenic rice homozygous lines expressing GNA showed enhanced resistance to rice brown planthopper

Mature seed-derived calli from two elite Chinese japonica rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivars Eyi 105 and Ewan 5 were co-transformed with two plasmids, pWRG1515 and pRSSGNA1, containing the selectable marker hygromycin phosphotransferase gene (hpt), the reporter β-glucuronidase gene (gusA) and the snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis) lectin gene (gna) via particle bombardment. 61 independent transgenic rice plants were regenerated from 329 bombarded calli. 79% transgenic plants contained all the three genes, revealed by PCR/Southern blot analysis. Western blot analysis revealed that 36 out of 48 gna-containing transgenic plants expressed GNA (75%) at various levels with the highest expression being approximately 0.5% of total soluble protein. Genetic analysis confirmed Mendelian segregation of transgenes in progeny. From the R2 generations whose R1 parent plants showing 3:1 Mendelian segregation patterns, we identified five independent homozygous lines containing and expressing all the three transgenes. Insect bioassay and feeding tests showed that these homozygous lines had significant inhibition to rice brown planthopper (Nilaparvata lugens, BPH) by decreasing BPH survival and overall fecundity, retarding BPH development and declining BPH feeding. These BPH-resistant lines have been incorporated into rice insect resistance breeding program. This is the first report that homozygous transgenic rice lines expressing GNA, developed by genetic transformation and through genetic analysis-based selection, conferred enhanced resistance to BPH, one of the most damaging insect pests in rice.     

Cloning and characterization of rice RH3 gene induced by brown planthopper

Histones are basic low molecular weight proteins found in all eukaryotic genomes. The histones include five classes of basic proteins (H1, H2A, H2B, H3 and H4) that interact with each other and nuclear DNA to form the nucleosome. The H3 and H4 histone proteins are highly conserved and form the central tetrameric block of the core-nucleosome. Histone H3 has several post-transcrip- tional modifications such as methylation, acetylation, phosphonation, and ADP-ribosylation and it plays impor…     

Transformation of japonica rice with<Emphasis Type="Italic">RHL</Emphasis> gene and salt tolerance of the transgenic rice plant

Overexpression of the yeastHAL2 gene increases salt tolerance of yeast and plant. RiceHAL2-like (RHL) gene was introduced into ajaponica rice cultivar HJ19 withAgrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation. Transgenic plants in R₀ generation were selected on the principle of GUS-positive,RHL gene PCR-positive and normal growth. Hygromycin-resistant plants of some transgenic lines in R₁ generation increased salt tolerance during the seedling and booting stage, being less damaged in the cytomembrane and stronger in leaf tissue viability under salt stress during booting period. Southern analysis of transgenic lines tolerant to salt in R₁ generation showed that theRHL gene expression cassette had been successfully integrated into rice genome. Moreover, gene engineering breeding methodology and really salt-tolerant rice cultivar were discussed.     

In situ localization of proteinase inhibitor mRNA in rice plant challenged by brown planthopper

Proteinase inhibitor (PI) mRNA was localized by in situ hybridization in tissue sections of root, stem and leaf of the resistant rice (B5) plant fed by brown planthopper nymphs. In the rice material without BPH feeding, PI gene was expressed in the root, stem and leaf, while the abundance of PI mRNA was low. In the rice material fed by BPH,PI gene was expressed substantially in the parenchyma of rice stem and leaf, but weakly in the root. The results indicated that the PI gene was up-regulated in the rice plant challenged by brown planthopper. For the first time, we reported the expression changes of proteinase inhibitor gene in plant which was infested by a piercing/sucking insect.     

水稻胰蛋白酶抑制剂对褐飞虱产卵刺激的响应

 昆虫产卵过程对寄主植物的直接刺激包括产卵器的机械损伤和卵表面物质带来影响,这些刺激是启动植物诱导抗虫性的重要途径。通过对褐飞虱产卵处理后水稻植株内胰蛋白酶抑制剂（BBPI）合成酶基因的表达量及物质含量的测定,对比褐飞虱取食和机械损伤处理,发现褐飞虱产卵能够诱导水稻BBPI合成酶基因的表达和BBPI物质的生成。处理后6 h,12 h,水稻 BBPI 表达量显著高于取食和机械损伤处理;产卵诱导的BBPI物质含量显著高于正常水稻。褐飞虱产卵诱导水稻启动〖WTBX〗BBPI〖WTBZ〗表达和物质合成表明,与取食危害类似,水稻同样会对褐飞虱产卵刺激产生响应,启动相应的植物防御体系,进而达到阻滞褐飞虱危害的目的。     

Mapping of two new brown planthopper resistance genes from wild rice

A brown planthopper (BPH) resistance line, B5, derived its resistance genes from the wild riceOryza officinalis Wall exwatt, was hybridized with Taichung Native 1, a cultivar highly susceptible to BPH. A mapping population composed of randomly selected 167 F₂ individuals was used for determining the BPH resistance genes by the restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis (RFLP). Bulked segregant analysis was conducted to identify RFLP makers linked to the BPH resistance genes in B5. The results indicated that the markers linked to BPH resistance are located at two genomic regions on the long arm of chromosome 3 and the short arm of chromosome 4, respectively. The existence of the two loci was further assessed by the quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis. We located the two loci at a 3.2 cM interval between G1318 and R1925 on chromosome 3 and a 1.2 cM interval between C820 and S11182 on chromosome 4. Comparison with the BPH genes that have been reported indicated that the BPH resistance genes in B5 are novel. These two genes may be useful BPH resistance resource for rice breeding. Furthermore, the mapping of the two genes is useful for cloning the BPH resistance genes.     

Introduction of antisensewaxy gene into main parent lines ofindica hybrid rice

Amylose content in rice endosperm is one of the key determinants of rice eating and cooking quality, and the poor quality ofindica hybrid rice is closely related to the high amylose level in rice grains. In order to improve the grain quality of theindica hybrid rice by genetic engineering, an antisense fragment of ricewaxy gene, driven by the 5′-franking sequences of the ricewaxy gene, was successfully introduced into three major parent lines ofindica hybrid rice, all contain a high amylose level in the grains, viaAgrobacterium, and more than 100 hygromycinresistant plants were regenerated. The analysis of PCR amplification and Southern blots indicated that the T-DNA containing the antisensewaxy gene had been integrated into the genome of transgenic rice plants. Most of the primary transgenic rice plants grew normally, and the mature seeds from these transgenic plants were performed for analysis of the amylose content. The results showed that the amylose content in the endosperm of some grains was reduced and the lowest reached 7.02% in one homozygous transgenic line, 72.4% lower than that of the wild type. The influence of the altered amylose content on the gelatinization temperature and gel consistency was also observed in several homozygous transgenic rice plants. The two authors contributed equally to this work.     

Resistance to rice blast (Pyricularia oryzae) caused by the expression of trichosanthin gene in transgenic rice plants transferred through agrobacterium method

The gene of trichosanthin has been transferred into rice plants through agrobacterium method. The single copy insertion and the expression of foreign gene have been proved in regenerated plants. In antifungal assay the degrees of rice blast (Pyricularia oryzae) infection of the transgenic plants expressing trichosanthin and expressingGUS gene as control have been evaluated. The differences such as the time of disease symptom observed, the number of infected plants and damaged leaves, the growth of infected plants of the two transgenic plants after being inoculated by rice blast (Pyricularia oryzae) are significant. The transgenic plants with trichosanthin gene grew faster than the plants withGUS gene, even when humidity environment was removed. The results show that the transgenic plants that expressed trichosanthin are able to delay the infection of rice blast compared with the plants as control. In addition, no damage caused by the expression of trichosanthin gene in transgenic plants has been observed.     

Role of ethylene signaling in the production of rice volatiles induced by the rice brown planthopper Nilaparvata lugens

In response to herbivory, plants release volatiles to attract the natural enemies of herbivores[1,2]. This phe- nomenon has been reported in more than 23 plant spe- cies[3―6], and several field studies have shown that these herbivore-induced volatiles en…     

Caterpillar-induced nocturnal plant volatiles repel conspecific females

Plants respond to insect herbivory by synthesizing and releasing complex blends of volatile compounds, which provide important host-location cues for insects that are natural enemies of herbivores. The effects of these volatile blends on herbivore behaviour have been investigated to only a limited extent, in part because of the assumption that herbivore-induced volatile emissions occur mainly during the light phase of the photoperiod. Because many moths-whose larvae are some of the most important insect herbivores-are nocturnal, herbivore-induced plant volatiles have not hitherto been considered to be temporally available as host-location cues for ovipositing females. Here we present chemical and behavioural assays showing that tobacco plants (Nicotiana tabacum) release herbivore-induced volatiles during both night and day. Moreover, several volatile compounds are released exclusively at night and are highly repellent to female moths (Heliothis virescens). The demonstration that tobacco plants release temporally different volatile blends and that lepidopteran herbivores use induced plant signals released during the dark phase to choose sites for oviposition adds a new dimension to our understanding of the role of chemical cues in mediating tritrophic interactions.     

三种水稻挥发物对稻田节肢动物群落和嗅觉行为的影响

茉莉酸甲酯、水杨酸甲酯和芳樟醇是水稻受虫害诱导后产生的重要挥发物性物质。它们通过直接或间接的途径,参与植物抵抗病虫害的过程中。通过田间调查和昆虫触角电生理分析,对这3种挥发物在稻田节肢动物群落和嗅觉行为水平上的作用进行了研究。结果发现水杨酸甲酯对害虫的虫口密度影响较明显,晚稻田中,水杨酸甲酯组的害虫数量(14.42头/板)显著高于其余各处理组。赤眼蜂的嗅觉电位随芳樟醇和茉莉酸甲酯浓度的升高而显著增大,浓度为1/50时赤眼蜂嗅觉电位的变化值显著高于浓度为1/5000时嗅觉电位变化值。     

白背飞虱取食为害后水稻植株光合作用能力的变化与抗虫性的关系

本文研究了不同抗虫水稻品种在白背飞虱为害后稻株光合作用能力的变化与抗虫性的关系。结果表明 ,稻株受害后 :感虫品种 (TN1和汕优 6 3)光合作用速率和叶绿素含量下降率比抗虫品种 (N2 2 )明显 ;汕优 6 3和 N2 2品种的二磷酸核酮糖 (Ru BP)羧化酶的含量和活力均增加 ,TN1品种在为害 5天时 Ru BP羧化酶的含量和活力明显增加 ,而在为害 10天时反而低于健康稻株 ;感虫品种受害后叶片光合产物滞留比抗虫品种多 ,即感虫品种光合产物向叶鞘、茎、分蘖和根等部位的转移量少于抗虫品种。     

Salt tolerance of transgenic rice (Oryza sativa L.) withmtlD gene andgutD gene

Southern blot analysis indicated thatmtlD gene (encoding mannitol-1-phosphate dehydrogenase) andgutD gene (encoding glucitol-6-phosphate dehydrogenase) had been integrated into the rice genome mediated byAgrobacterium tumefaciens LBA4404(pBIGM). The expression of the above two genes in transgenic rice plants was demonstrated by Northern blot analysis and enzymatic activity assay. Analysis of sugar alcohol showed that transgenic rice plants could produce and accumulate mannitol and sorbitol. The salt tolerance of transgenic plants was much higher than that of their controls.     

Mapping of a new gene for brown planthopper resistance in cultivated rice introgressed fromOryza eichingeri

Wild rice species is an important source of useful genes for cultivated rice improvement. Some accessions of Oryza eichingeri (2n = 24, CC) from Africa confer strong resistance to brown planthopper (BPH), whitebacked planthopper (WBPH) and bacterial blight (BB). In the present study, restriction fragments length polymorphism (RFLP) and simple sequence repeats (SSR) analysis were performed on disomic backcross plants between Oryza sativa (2n = 24, AA) and O. eichingeri in order to identify the presence of O. eichingeri segments and further to localize BPH-resistant gene. In the introgression lines, 1—6 O. eichingeri segments were detected on rice chromosomes 1, 2, 6, or/and 10. The dominant BPH resistant gene, tentatively named Bph13(t), was mapped to chromosome 2, being 6.1 and 5.5 cM away from two microsatellite markers RM240 and RM250, respectively. The transfer and localization of this gene from O. eichingeri will contribute to the improvement of BPH resistance in cultivated rice.     

Introduction of pokeweed antiviral protein cDNA intoBrassica napus and acquisition of transgenic plants resistant to viruses

Using cotyledonary petioles as explants, the PAP cDNA controlled by wound-inducible promoter has been introduced intoBrassica napus by coculture withAgrobacterium tumefaciens and laser microbeam puncture respectively. Regenerated plants resistant to gentamycin have been selected out. PCR amplification and Southern blotting analysis indicated that PAP cDNA together with wound-inducible promoter had been integrated intoBrassica genome with transformation frequencies of 2.0% and 1.7% for two transformation methods respectively. The test of virus challenge showed that these transgenicBrassica plants were resistant in different degrees to mechanically inoculated TuMV.     

转录因子OsNAC2对逆境下水稻产量性状的影响

以水稻OsNAC2过表达、RNAi转基因株系和野生型（日本晴）为材料,分别在苗期和生殖期进行干旱和盐胁迫处理,探索逆境条件下OsNAC2对水稻产量性状的影响。结果表明,不论是在苗期还是生殖期,OsNAC2-RNAi株系的叶相对含水量均比野生型更高,对干旱胁迫具有更强的适应能力;而OsNAC2过表达株系则相反。虽然苗期和生殖期遭遇盐胁迫的OsNAC2-RNAi株系相比野生型具有更高的叶相对含水量,但是OsNAC2的过量表达与RNAi株系的产量性状跟野生型相比并没有明显不同。生殖期干旱和盐胁迫下转基因株系的产量性状分析显示：干旱胁迫下,OsNAC2-RNAi株系的结实率与野生型相比显著提高了20.8%~29.2%,千粒重则无明显差异;而OsNAC2过表达株系每株粒数和千粒重相比野生型株系均显著降低。虽然盐胁迫下OsNAC2-RNAi株系的分蘖数和有效穗数明显比野生型高,但单株粒数和千粒重则无明显差异。上述结果表明,OsNAC2-RNAi株系具有更强的耐旱性,对于干旱胁迫下水稻的产量有显著的提高作用。