Indutores de defesa de plantas em interações envolvendo cultivos agrícolas, pragas de solo e nematoides entomopatogênicos

Abstract

Plants inhabit two dynamic environments simultaneously, facing attack from foliar herbivores aboveground and root herbivores belowground. Plant defense pathways play a critical role in mediating responses to these attacks. Here, we examine the role of plant defense pathway stimulation aboveground with Methyl Salicylate and Methyl Jasmonate on the tritrophic interactions between plants, herbivores, and entomopathogenic nematode natural enemies belowground. We find that aboveground herbivory in corn and stimulation of the jasmonic acid and salicylic acid pathways in corn and citrus can recruit entomopathogenic nematodes belowground. Further, we implicate a specific induced plant volatile as mediating this recruitment in citrus. Additionally, we explore the effect of elicitor dose and nematode release parameters affecting nematode recruitment to elicitor treated corn seedlings. These results suggest a broad role for belowground signaling in tritrophic interactions, emphasize the connection between the above and belowground parts of plants as mediated by plant defense pathways, and point to novel strategies for enhancing biological control of subterranean insect pests with entomopathogenic nematodes in the field.