Work

Salicylic and jasmonic acid crosstalk manipulation by whiteflies weakens larval parasitoid recruitment

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Interactions between signaling hormones act as a central hub of plant defenses, determining how plants respond to attacks by different herbivores and pathogens. Understanding how this hormonal crosstalk influences direct and indirect defenses is key for both ecological insight and pest management. Dong et al. (2025) reveal that the phloem-feeding whitefly Bemisia tabaci activates salicylic acid (SA) signaling, which suppresses jasmonic acid- (JA) dependent volatiles, thereby weakening the attraction of larval parasitoids of Pieris rapae while leaving recruitment of egg parasitoids unaffected. By linking NPR1-mediated SA-JA antagonism with changes in herbivore-induced volatiles and parasitoid behavior, this study provides mechanistic clarity on how herbivores affect plant defenses and reshape multitrophic interactions.

Source: Journal of Experimental Botany

DOI: 10.1093/jxb/eraf462

Authors: Pablo Urbaneja-Bernat, Víctor Flors

Institution: Universitat Jaume I

Language: English

Topic: Insect-Plant Interactions and Control

Subfield: Insect Science

Field: Agricultural and Biological Sciences

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Zero hunger

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $4,341