Original paper
Host-induced salivary protein plasticity mediated by different maize varieties revealed potential proteins involved in plant defense regulation in Spodoptera frugiperda
Lin, Huan-tai; Cai, Ju-yuan; Zhou, Jiang-Xiong; Yang, Zhi-han; Li, Wu-yue; Gao, San-ji; Wang, Jin-da
Entomologia Generalis Volume 45 Number 6 (2025), p. 1679 - 1688
published: Dec 4, 2025
published online: Dec 4, 2025
manuscript accepted: Oct 6, 2025
manuscript revision received: Sep 23, 2025
manuscript revision requested: Sep 8, 2025
manuscript received: Jul 21, 2025
ArtNo. ESP146004506014, Price: 29.00 €
Abstract
The invasion of the fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) poses a significant threat to crop productivity worldwide. Understanding plant-insect interaction mechanisms is crucial for developing resistant cultivars and sustainable pest management strategies. This study investigated the feeding preferences and developmental performance of S. frugiperda larvae on two maize cultivars: feed corn (ZD958) and sweet corn (ZNT488). Larvae exhibited a strong preference and higher fitness on ZNT488. Comparative salivary proteomics revealed host-specific differentially expressed proteins, with the majority categorized as digestive enzymes. Furthermore, we identified two salivary proteins with potential roles in modulating plant defenses: a trypsin alkaline B-like protein stimulating plant defense responses, and antichymotrypsin-1 isoform X1, implicated in suppressing them. Our results demonstrated that host plant-induced plasticity in S. frugiperda salivary protein expression mediates insect-maize interactions, and provided fundamental insights into herbivore adaptation mechanisms as well as identify molecular targets for development of new pest management strategy.
Keywords
fall armyworm • life table • resistance mechanisms • phytohormones • RNA interference (RNAi) • host specificity • effectors • proteomics