The exposure of field-grown maize seedlings to weed volatiles affects their growth and seed quality

Frontiers in Plant Science

Plant Science

Junji Takabayashi¹  Shota Izumi²  Takuma Yoshida²  Kaori Shiojiri²  Satomi Ishizaki³  Yusuke Sakurai³ 

[1] Center for Ecological Research, Kyoto University, Otsu, Japan;Department of Agriculture, Ryukoku University, Otsu, Japan;Graduate School of Science and Technology, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan;

关键词: plant-plant communication;    mugwort;    goldenrod;    maize;    salicylic acid;    sugar content;    weed volatiles;    seed quality;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fpls.2023.1141338

 received in 2023-01-10, accepted in 2023-07-28,  发布年份 2023

来源: Frontiers

【 摘 要 】

Plants exposed to volatiles emitted from artificially damaged conspecific or heterospecific plants exhibit increased resistance to herbivorous insects. Here, we examined whether volatiles from artificially damaged weeds affect maize growth and reproduction. Seven days after germination, maize seedlings were exposed to volatiles emitted by artificially damaged mugwort (Artemisia indica var. maximowiczii) or tall goldenrod (Solidago altissima) plants either separately, or as a mixture of the two, for seven days. Unexposed seedlings were used as controls. Treated and control seedlings were cultivated in an experimental field without any insecticides applied. Plants exposed to either of the three volatile treatments sustained significantly less damage than controls. Additionally, seedlings exposed to either goldenrod or mixed volatiles produced more leaves and tillers than control plants. Furthermore, a significant increase in the number of ears was observed in plants exposed to the volatile mixture. In all treated plants, ear sugar content was significantly higher than that in the controls. Further, we cultivated seedlings that were either exposed to the volatile mixture or unexposed, under the conventional farming method using pesticides. Similar significant differences were observed for sugar content, number of tillers, leaves, damaged leaves, and ears. Laboratory experiments were conducted to further evaluate the mechanisms involved in the improved performance of volatile-treated plants. A significant reduction in the growth of common armyworm (Mythimna separata) larvae was observed when maize plants were exposed to the volatile mixture. This treatment did not affect the amount of jasmonic acid in the seedlings, whereas salicylic acid content increased upon exposure. The characteristic differences in chemical composition of mugwort and goldenrod volatiles were confirmed and, in turn, the volatile mixture differed significantly from the volatiles of either species.

【 授权许可】

Unknown   
Copyright © 2023 Sakurai, Ishizaki, Izumi, Yoshida, Shiojiri and Takabayashi