Induced Defense in Ryegrass–Epichloë Symbiosis Against <i>Listronotus bonariensis</i>: Impact on Peramine Levels and Pest Performance
The Argentine stem weevil (ASW), a major pest in ryegrass pastures, causes significant agricultural losses. Ryegrass can establish a symbiotic association with <i>Epichloë</i> endophytic fungi, which supply chemical defenses, including peramine. This symbiosis helps protect ryegrass by p...
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2025-01-01
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| author | Manuel Chacón-Fuentes Gunnary León-Finalé Marcelo Lizama Gastón Gutiérrez-Gamboa Daniel Martínez-Cisterna Andrés Quiroz Leonardo Bardehle |
| author_facet | Manuel Chacón-Fuentes Gunnary León-Finalé Marcelo Lizama Gastón Gutiérrez-Gamboa Daniel Martínez-Cisterna Andrés Quiroz Leonardo Bardehle |
| author_sort | Manuel Chacón-Fuentes |
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| description | The Argentine stem weevil (ASW), a major pest in ryegrass pastures, causes significant agricultural losses. Ryegrass can establish a symbiotic association with <i>Epichloë</i> endophytic fungi, which supply chemical defenses, including peramine. This symbiosis helps protect ryegrass by providing peramine, which acts as a primary defense. In addition, ryegrass can activate induced defense mechanisms, with peramine remaining the central agent in response to herbivorous insect attacks. Therefore, this study assessed the feeding of the ASW on ryegrass carrying endophytic fungus and peramine levels in aerial organs and its effects on pest performance. Argentine stem weevil adults and larvae were placed on ryegrass leaves and stems to assess feeding. Two treatments were used: endophyte-free plants and endophyte-colonized plants. After ASW feeding damage, insect consumption was measured by the leaf area consumed. To evaluate peramine production and its increase in response to ASW attack, peramine levels in leaves were analyzed using liquid chromatography. Damaged E+ ryegrass plants showed significant increases in peramine, with adult and larval herbivory raising levels by 291% and 216% in stems and by 135% and 85% in leaves, respectively, compared to controls. Endophyte-free (E−) plants experienced more ASW damage, as insects preferred feeding on them, showing reduced activity as peramine levels rose in endophyte-infected (E+) plants. An oviposition assay confirmed insect preference for endophyte-free (E−) plants. Additionally, larvae reared on endophyte-infected (E+) plants had lower survival rates, correlating negatively with peramine levels. These results emphasize peramine’s role in strengthening ryegrass defenses against ASW, impacting both feeding and larval development. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2309-608X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Journal of Fungi |
| spelling | doaj-art-ee89c5858ede4999aa3e4dda6cb25ed42025-01-24T13:37:22ZengMDPI AGJournal of Fungi2309-608X2025-01-011115010.3390/jof11010050Induced Defense in Ryegrass–Epichloë Symbiosis Against <i>Listronotus bonariensis</i>: Impact on Peramine Levels and Pest PerformanceManuel Chacón-Fuentes0Gunnary León-Finalé1Marcelo Lizama2Gastón Gutiérrez-Gamboa3Daniel Martínez-Cisterna4Andrés Quiroz5Leonardo Bardehle6Agriaquaculture Nutritional Genomic Center, CGNA, Temuco 4781158, ChilePrograma de Doctorado en Ciencias de Recursos Naturales, Facultad de Ingeniería y Ciencias, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco 4811230, ChilePrograma de Doctorado en Ciencias Agroalimentarias y Medioambiente, Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias y Medioambiente, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco 4811230, ChileInstituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias, INIA Carillanca, km 10 Camino Cajón-Vilcún s/n, Casilla 929, Temuco 4880000, ChilePrograma de Doctorado en Ciencias de Recursos Naturales, Facultad de Ingeniería y Ciencias, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco 4811230, ChileLaboratorio de Química Ecológica, Departamento de Ciencias Químicas y Recursos Naturales, Universidad de La Frontera, Av. Francisco Salazar 01145, Casilla 54-D, Temuco 4811230, ChileCentro de Investigación Biotecnológica Aplicada al Medio Ambiente (CIBAMA), Universidad de La Frontera, Av. Francisco Salazar 01145, Casilla 54-D, Temuco 4811230, ChileThe Argentine stem weevil (ASW), a major pest in ryegrass pastures, causes significant agricultural losses. Ryegrass can establish a symbiotic association with <i>Epichloë</i> endophytic fungi, which supply chemical defenses, including peramine. This symbiosis helps protect ryegrass by providing peramine, which acts as a primary defense. In addition, ryegrass can activate induced defense mechanisms, with peramine remaining the central agent in response to herbivorous insect attacks. Therefore, this study assessed the feeding of the ASW on ryegrass carrying endophytic fungus and peramine levels in aerial organs and its effects on pest performance. Argentine stem weevil adults and larvae were placed on ryegrass leaves and stems to assess feeding. Two treatments were used: endophyte-free plants and endophyte-colonized plants. After ASW feeding damage, insect consumption was measured by the leaf area consumed. To evaluate peramine production and its increase in response to ASW attack, peramine levels in leaves were analyzed using liquid chromatography. Damaged E+ ryegrass plants showed significant increases in peramine, with adult and larval herbivory raising levels by 291% and 216% in stems and by 135% and 85% in leaves, respectively, compared to controls. Endophyte-free (E−) plants experienced more ASW damage, as insects preferred feeding on them, showing reduced activity as peramine levels rose in endophyte-infected (E+) plants. An oviposition assay confirmed insect preference for endophyte-free (E−) plants. Additionally, larvae reared on endophyte-infected (E+) plants had lower survival rates, correlating negatively with peramine levels. These results emphasize peramine’s role in strengthening ryegrass defenses against ASW, impacting both feeding and larval development.https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/11/1/50pest controlinsect repellentinduced defense mechanismperaminealkaloid<i>Listronotus bonariensis</i> |
| spellingShingle | Manuel Chacón-Fuentes Gunnary León-Finalé Marcelo Lizama Gastón Gutiérrez-Gamboa Daniel Martínez-Cisterna Andrés Quiroz Leonardo Bardehle Induced Defense in Ryegrass–Epichloë Symbiosis Against <i>Listronotus bonariensis</i>: Impact on Peramine Levels and Pest Performance Journal of Fungi pest control insect repellent induced defense mechanism peramine alkaloid <i>Listronotus bonariensis</i> |
| title | Induced Defense in Ryegrass–Epichloë Symbiosis Against <i>Listronotus bonariensis</i>: Impact on Peramine Levels and Pest Performance |
| title_full | Induced Defense in Ryegrass–Epichloë Symbiosis Against <i>Listronotus bonariensis</i>: Impact on Peramine Levels and Pest Performance |
| title_fullStr | Induced Defense in Ryegrass–Epichloë Symbiosis Against <i>Listronotus bonariensis</i>: Impact on Peramine Levels and Pest Performance |
| title_full_unstemmed | Induced Defense in Ryegrass–Epichloë Symbiosis Against <i>Listronotus bonariensis</i>: Impact on Peramine Levels and Pest Performance |
| title_short | Induced Defense in Ryegrass–Epichloë Symbiosis Against <i>Listronotus bonariensis</i>: Impact on Peramine Levels and Pest Performance |
| title_sort | induced defense in ryegrass epichloe symbiosis against i listronotus bonariensis i impact on peramine levels and pest performance |
| topic | pest control insect repellent induced defense mechanism peramine alkaloid <i>Listronotus bonariensis</i> |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/11/1/50 |
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