Volatile signaling in plant– <i>Metarhizium</i> –insect interactions: Implications for nitrogen cycling
Abstract
Nitrogen exchange between plants and insects is a major component of ecosystem nitrogen cycling. Endophytic insect pathogenic fungi transfer insect-derived nitrogen to plants through symbiotic associations mediated by fungal mycelia, enabling plants to thrive even after losing nitrogen to insects. However, the mechanisms underlying this process remain unexplored. Here, we show that the widespread endophytic entomopathogen Metarhizium robertsii degrades the common root-derived antifungal compound caulilexin C to produce the volatile 1-methoxyindole. This compound is recognized by the Or74a olfactory receptor in Drosophila melanogaster larvae and attracts multiple Dipteran species to the plant– Metarhizium consortium. The recruited insects are subsequently infected and consumed, resulting in enhanced insect-derived nitrogen transfer to the plants. This self-reinforcing mechanism strengthens the plant–fungus symbiosis and reveals a pathway contributing to ecosystem nitrogen flux.
Article Details
Journal Info
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
National Academy of Sciences
Authors (12)
Xingyuan Tang
State Key Laboratory of Vegetation structure, Function and Construction (VegLab), College of Life Science, Zhejiang University
Ting Feng
Institute of Insect Sciences, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University
Chaonan Yu
State Key Laboratory of Vegetation structure, Function and Construction (VegLab), College of Life Science, Zhejiang University
Meihong Ni
State Key Laboratory of Vegetation structure, Function and Construction (VegLab), College of Life Science, Zhejiang University
Yubo Zhang
Minjiang Collaborative Center for Theoretical Physics, College of Physics and Electronic Information Engineering
Xin Ma
Xinmiao Wang
GRINM (Guangdong) Institute for Advanced Materials and Technology
Jiani Chen
Zhejiang Engineering Research Center for Biological Control of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Biology and Ecological Regulation of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Key Lab of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insect Pests, State Key Lab of Rice Biology and Breeding, Institute of Insect Sciences, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University
Wenqi Shi
Institute of Insect Sciences, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University
Raymond J. St.Leger
Department of Entomology, University of Maryland
Jianhua Huang
Zhejiang Engineering Research Center for Biological Control of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Biology and Ecological Regulation of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Key Lab of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insect Pests, State Key Lab of Rice Biology and Breeding, Institute of Insect Sciences, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University
Weiguo Fang
State Key Laboratory of Vegetation structure, Function and Construction (VegLab), College of Life Science, Zhejiang University