A pentatomomorpha-specific salivary protein activates plant immunity and is critical for insect feeding

B Biao Hu (School of Nuclear Science and Technology, University of South China, 28 Changsheng West Road, Hengyang 421001, China) X Xiuli Feng (State Key Laboratory for Quality and Safety of Agro-Products, Key Laboratory of Biotechnology in Plant Protection of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA), Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Green Plant Protection, Institute of Plant Virology, Ningbo University) M Manru Xu (State Key Laboratory for Quality and Safety of Agro-Products, Key Laboratory of Biotechnology in Plant Protection of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA), Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Green Plant Protection, Institute of Plant Virology, Ningbo University) Y Yue Huang C Chunyun Guo (State Key Laboratory for Quality and Safety of Agro-Products, Key Laboratory of Biotechnology in Plant Protection of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA), Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Green Plant Protection, Institute of Plant Virology, Ningbo University) R Ruikun Yuan (State Key Laboratory for Quality and Safety of Agro-Products, Key Laboratory of Biotechnology in Plant Protection of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA), Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Green Plant Protection, Institute of Plant Virology, Ningbo University) Y Yiyuan Li (State Key Laboratory for Quality and Safety of Agro-Products, Key Laboratory of Biotechnology in Plant Protection of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA), Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Green Plant Protection, Institute of Plant Virology, Ningbo University) Z Zhongyan Wei (State Key Laboratory for Quality and Safety of Agro-Products, Key Laboratory of Biotechnology in Plant Protection of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA), Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Green Plant Protection, Institute of Plant Virology, Ningbo University) J Jianping Chen Z Zongtao Sun (State Key Laboratory for Quality and Safety of Agro-Products, Key Laboratory of Biotechnology in Plant Protection of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA), Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Green Plant Protection, Institute of Plant Virology, Ningbo University)

Abstract

The stinkbug Riptortus pedestris , notorious for inducing soybean staygreen-like syndrome, employs a range of salivary proteins to manipulate the host plant for its benefit. Here, we show that RpSP1, a salivary protein specific to Pentatomomorpha, triggers plant defense responses in multiple plant species. RpSP1 interacts with and stabilizes a HSP40 family protein GmSPIP1 and is dependent on GmSPIP1 to induce cell death. We show that a critical 22-amino acid peptide within RpSP1 acts as an intracellular insect-derived elicitor. Furthermore, RpSP1 enhances insect-feeding efficiency. The dual functionality of RpSP1 is highlighted by the significant reduction of soybean staygreen-like syndrome following its overexpression in soybean plants or knockdown in insects. Our findings elucidate the complex molecular interactions between plants and herbivores, positioning RpSP1 as a crucial target for developing advanced pest management strategies with broad implications for agricultural biology.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 122, Issue 5
Published February 04, 2025
ISSN 0027-8424
Publisher National Academy of Sciences

Authors (10)

B

Biao Hu

School of Nuclear Science and Technology, University of South China, 28 Changsheng West Road, Hengyang 421001, China

X

Xiuli Feng

State Key Laboratory for Quality and Safety of Agro-Products, Key Laboratory of Biotechnology in Plant Protection of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA), Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Green Plant Protection, Institute of Plant Virology, Ningbo University

M

Manru Xu

State Key Laboratory for Quality and Safety of Agro-Products, Key Laboratory of Biotechnology in Plant Protection of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA), Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Green Plant Protection, Institute of Plant Virology, Ningbo University

Y

Yue Huang

C

Chunyun Guo

State Key Laboratory for Quality and Safety of Agro-Products, Key Laboratory of Biotechnology in Plant Protection of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA), Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Green Plant Protection, Institute of Plant Virology, Ningbo University

R

Ruikun Yuan

State Key Laboratory for Quality and Safety of Agro-Products, Key Laboratory of Biotechnology in Plant Protection of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA), Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Green Plant Protection, Institute of Plant Virology, Ningbo University

Y

Yiyuan Li

State Key Laboratory for Quality and Safety of Agro-Products, Key Laboratory of Biotechnology in Plant Protection of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA), Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Green Plant Protection, Institute of Plant Virology, Ningbo University

Z

Zhongyan Wei

State Key Laboratory for Quality and Safety of Agro-Products, Key Laboratory of Biotechnology in Plant Protection of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA), Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Green Plant Protection, Institute of Plant Virology, Ningbo University

J

Jianping Chen

Z

Zongtao Sun

State Key Laboratory for Quality and Safety of Agro-Products, Key Laboratory of Biotechnology in Plant Protection of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA), Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Green Plant Protection, Institute of Plant Virology, Ningbo University