Pest Management Science最新文献

{"title":"Fluazinam binds with the ATP synthase subunit FfATPh but not with FfATP5 or FfATPb of Fusarium fujikuroi","authors":"Zelong Peng, Weidong Wen, Chongjing Xu, Pengwei Wang, Tingting Ran, Yiping Hou","doi":"10.1002/ps.70249","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ps.70249","url":null,"abstract":"BACKGROUNDRice bakanae disease, a devastating disease caused by <jats:italic>Fusarium fujikuroi</jats:italic> infection, is primarily managed through chemical agents. Fluazinam, an oxidative phosphorylation uncoupler, is registered for controlling rice bakanae disease, yet its precise mechanism of action remains unclear. Our previous studies found that deletion mutants of ATP synthase subunits FfATPh, FfATP5, and FfATPb in <jats:italic>Fusarium fujikuroi</jats:italic> showed reduced sensitivity to fluazinam, therefore we aimed to investigate whether fluazinam is capable of binding with FfATPh, FfATP5, and FfATPb.RESULTSIn this study, the ATP synthase subunits FfATPh, FfATP5, and FfATPb were obtained via prokaryotic expression and nickel‐column affinity purification. Microscale thermophoresis (MST) results showed that fluazinam binds with His9‐MBP‐TEV‐ATPh and the <jats:italic>K</jats:italic><jats:sub>d</jats:sub> was 25.34 ± 11.71 nM. In contrast, its <jats:italic>K</jats:italic><jats:sub>d</jats:sub> values for His9‐MBP‐TEV‐ATP5 and His9‐MBP‐TEV‐ATPb were 1.49 ± 1.32 μM and 1.04 ± 0.75 μM, respectively, both similar to that of the His9‐MBP‐TEV control (2.57 ± 2.02 μM). These findings indicate that fluazinam exhibits specific affinity with FfATPh. Molecular docking analysis showed that fluazinam can form hydrogen bonds with Asp42 and Phe43 of FfATPh. Further affinity measurements of purified FfATPh point‐mutant proteins showed that the binding affinity of fluazinam with His9‐MBP‐TEV‐ATPh‐D42A, D42H, F43A, and F43S was reduced to varying degrees. Mutations at residue Asp42 led to a more significant decrease in affinity, with <jats:italic>K</jats:italic><jats:sub>d</jats:sub> values of 639 ± 431 nM for D42A and 1.61 ± 1.36 μM for D42H.CONCLUSIONBased on these data, we speculate that fluazinam binds with FfATPh, with Asp42 serving as key binding sites. These findings provide a new molecular perspective on the mode of action of fluazinam and lay the foundation for its precise structural optimization. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.","PeriodicalId":218,"journal":{"name":"Pest Management Science","volume":"20 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-09-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145133612","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Sublethal tebuconazole exposure enhances pathogenicity and resistance development in Sclerotium rolfsii.","authors":"Ruiping Huang,Lin Zhou,Xuewei Mao,Jialin Duan,Yue Wang,Hong Li,Qinqin Wang,Li Wang,Daojie Wang","doi":"10.1002/ps.70250","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ps.70250","url":null,"abstract":"BACKGROUNDTebuconazole, an exemplary triazole fungicide, was registered in China for controlling peanut southern blight (caused by Sclerotium rolfsii Sacc.) in 2025; however, mechanistic studies on its toxicological effects remain limited. This study evaluates tebuconazole's (EC10: 0.0029, EC25: 0.0099 and EC30: 0.0134 mg L-1) effects on S. rolfsii growth, virulence, antioxidant enzymes, and target gene expression to guide its scientific application.RESULTSCompared to the control, the sclerotia germination rate of S. rolfsii at 24 h was increased by 64.29, 89.34, and 71.43% under EC₁₀, EC₂₅, and EC₃₀ tebuconazole exposure treatments, respectively. The cell membrane permeability of S. rolfsii was reduced after 36 h of tebuconazole exposure; however, prolonged treatment disrupted membrane integrity and subsequently increased permeability. Sublethal tebuconazole exposure increases the virulence of S. rolfsii towards peanuts and promotes oxalic acid secretion. Antioxidant enzyme activities (superoxide dismutase, peroxidase and catalase) and expression of the target gene (SrCYP51) exhibit responsive activation under sublethal tebuconazole stress.CONCLUSIONTebuconazole (EC₁₀, EC₂₅, and EC₃₀) may induce sclerotial germination, enhance virulence, and upregulate expression of a target gene in S. rolfsii, which could pose threats to both effective disease control and fungicide resistance development in this pathogen. The results advance the understanding of tebuconazole toxicity against S. rolfsii and guide its control strategies. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.","PeriodicalId":218,"journal":{"name":"Pest Management Science","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-09-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145117064","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"An amphiphilic carboxymethyl chitosan-based nanopesticide delivery system with enhanced foliar deposition for improved insect-repellent and antibacterial efficacy.","authors":"Jihao Zuo,Jinting Cai,Ying Li,Yitong Lin,Ruopeng Lan,Long Chen,Dongyan Yang,Xinhua Zhou,Hongjun Zhou","doi":"10.1002/ps.70251","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ps.70251","url":null,"abstract":"BACKGROUNDThe significant loss of dosage during pesticide interfacial transfer notably undermines bioavailability, posing a critical challenge to sustainable agriculture. Designing pesticide formulations with efficient foliar deposition facilitates reduced application rates and enhanced efficacy.RESULTSIn this study, methyl-bis(trimethylsilyloxy)silicon (TSS) was grafted onto carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS) via a free radical polymerization reaction, followed by self-assembly to form an amphiphilic carrier (C-Ax-Ty). The carrier then encapsulated eugenol (Eug) through hydrophobic interactions, resulting in the rational construction of the amphiphilic carboxymethyl chitosan-based nanopesticide delivery system (Eug@C-Ax-Ty). The regulation of TSS addition during carrier preparation significantly reduced dynamic surface tension while simultaneously increasing the viscosity of the solutions. Droplet impact dynamics evaluation confirmed that C-Ax-Ty effectively mitigated rebound behavior during high-speed collisions with hydrophobic surfaces. Notably, Eug@C-Ax-Ty exhibited superior dynamic wettability, as demonstrated by impact dynamics analysis and energy conversion analysis. Leveraging the enhanced foliar deposition ability and delayed volatilization of Eug, vegetables treated with Eug@C-A0.4-T1.0 demonstrated improved antifeedant activity against Spodoptera litura. Moreover, Eug@C-Ax-Ty exhibited significantly enhanced antibacterial activity against foodborne Staphylococcus aureus compared to Eug, while also demonstrating reduced phytotoxicity and minimal inhibition of seed germination.CONCLUSIONThis study provides theoretical insights for enhancing the foliar deposition of nanopesticide formulations and improving the bioavailability of plant essential oils, thus offering promising applications in sustainable agriculture. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.","PeriodicalId":218,"journal":{"name":"Pest Management Science","volume":"89 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-09-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145117065","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Antimicrobial activity and mechanism of the plant-derived compound evodiamine against Phytophthora capsici.","authors":"Wenhao Liang,Xiaoxiao Xu,Tong Shi,Shengyang Xu,Qizhi Wang,Bi Wang","doi":"10.1002/ps.70255","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ps.70255","url":null,"abstract":"BACKGROUNDPhytophthora capsici is a devastating oomycete pathogen with major economic concern. However, the use of traditional chemical fungicides is associated with environmental pollution, and fungicide resistance is increasingly prevalent. Consequently, developing safe, effective, and environmentally friendly alternatives is critically required. Evodiamine (EVO), a bioactive alkaloid from plants, has been extensively investigated for its anti-cancer properties. However, its inhibitory effects against phytopathogens have not yet been fully elucidated. This study evaluated EVO's antimicrobial activity toward P. capsici and its potential mode of action.RESULTSEVO significantly inhibited P. capsici mycelial growth and spore germination, with median effective concentration (EC50) values of 6.48 μg mL-1 and 7.13 μg mL-1 respectively, across 108 P. capsici isolates. EVO exerted its antimicrobial effects by disrupting the cellular integrity of P. capsici, specifically targeting both the cell membrane and wall. Furthermore, EVO exhibited strong protective and curative efficacies in pepper leaves and seedlings. Genome-wide transcriptional analysis revealed that EVO treatment significantly altered the gene expression profile of P. capsici, especially affecting genes relevant to cell membrane integrity and transporter activity.CONCLUSIONOverall, this study revealed that EVO showed great control efficacy against P. capsici and held promise as a novel botanical fungicide. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.","PeriodicalId":218,"journal":{"name":"Pest Management Science","volume":"19 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-09-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145117066","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Nano selenium enhanced tomato resistance to leaf mold via activating salicylic acid defense pathways and regulating metabolic profiles as well as improved plant growth.","authors":"Yuping Liu,Rui Liu,Ning Zhang,Simin Yu,Yufan Nie,Dier Song,Yue Zhang,Jia-Qi Li,Canping Pan,Wentao Zhu,Zhiqiang Zhou,Jinling Diao","doi":"10.1002/ps.70235","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ps.70235","url":null,"abstract":"BACKGROUNDDisease infection seriously threatens the healthy growth of tomatoes. In recent years, using nanomaterials to suppress crop disease damage has become a hotspot in agriculture. As an emerging nano-material, nano-selenium has been widely reported for improving crop growth and saving the damage caused by stresses such as pathogens and heavy metals on plants.RESULTSThis study investigated the control of tomato leaf mold (Cladosporium fulvum) by applying nano-Se (5/10/25 mg L-1) on tomato seedlings and explored related mechanisms. We found: (i) Nano-Se applying (especially 10 mg L-1) significantly inhibited tomato leaf mold and reduced disease severity of seedlings (52.84%, 14 days after inoculation). This was because nano-Se significantly promoted the accumulation of salicylic acid (SA) through up-regulating biosynthesis genes expression by significantly up-regulating the gene expression related to MAPK cascade and calcium signaling. This thereby induced the genes expression (NPR1, TGA2/1/5, WRKY33, WRKY70 and WRKY54) of SA signaling pathway, enhancing resistance-genes (PR1/2/3) transcription and elevating antioxidant and resistance-related indicator levels, ultimately activating systemic acquired resistance (SAR) in tomato. Nano-Se also promoted jasmonic acid (JA) signaling pathway. In addition, metabolomic analysis indicated nano-Se promoted phenolic compounds from the phenylpropane pathway (α-tocopherol, chlorogenic acid and ferulic acid), polyamines, GABA and various amino acids accumulation of tomato seedlings, which also supported the above results. (ii) Nano-Se promoted the growth of tomato seedings by enhancing photosynthesis and increasing auxin level.CONCLUSIONCompared to chemical fungicides, these findings suggested nano-Se provided a more promising and sustainable approach for managing diseases such as leaf mold and improving tomato plant growth. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.","PeriodicalId":218,"journal":{"name":"Pest Management Science","volume":"79 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-09-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145103561","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Suitability of common crop- and non-crop plants for Spodoptera frugiperda development in tropical Asia.","authors":"Yiwei Fang,Limei He,Shengyuan Zhao,Kris Ag Wyckhuys,Kongming Wu","doi":"10.1002/ps.70243","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ps.70243","url":null,"abstract":"BACKGROUNDFor the newly invasive fall armyworm (FAW; Spodoptera frugiperda Smith), large parts of Southeast Asia serve as a year-round breeding ground and a source of spring or summer migrants. So far, the host suitability data for crop- and non-crop species in the China-Myanmar-Lao border is still absent. Here, using life table analyses, we investigated FAW larval feeding and development on locally dominant crop and non-crop species.RESULTSAmong a panel of 17 locally relevant plant species, FAW exhibited the highest survival and fecundity on Zea mays. Meanwhile, field crops such as Manihot esculenta or Musa acuminata and weeds such as Sonchus wightianus, Arachis duranensis, and Sphagneticola trilobata act as potential alternate hosts supported under laboratory conditions. Larval development cannot be completed on Bidens alba and eight other plants, whereas FAW reproduction was not observed on Plantago asiatica and Hevea brasiliensis. On Z. mays, FAW exhibited the highest intrinsic rate of increase (r) and finite rate of increase (λ), the shortest mean generation time (T), and the highest net reproductive rate (R0). FAW attained the highest population growth on Z. mays, followed by M. esculenta, S. wightianus, M. acuminata, and A. duranensis. Larval feeding preferences were consistent with the ranking of host plant adaptability.CONCLUSIONIn the border region between Lao PDR, Myanmar and China, local FAW populations readily develop on locally prevalent crop- and non-crop plants including Z. mays, M. esculenta, M. acuminata, S. wightianus, A. duranensis, and S. trilobata. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.","PeriodicalId":218,"journal":{"name":"Pest Management Science","volume":"11 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-09-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145103562","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Knockout of chitin synthase gene confers resistance to Bt toxin Vip3Aa in Helicoverpa zea.","authors":"Chan C Heu,Inana X Schutze,Dannialle M LeRoy,Yu-Hui Wang,Ben A DeGain,Dawson D Kerns,Heba Abdelgaffar,Juan Luis Jurat-Fuentes,Luciano M Matzkin,Yves Carrière,Bruce E Tabashnik,Jeffrey A Fabrick","doi":"10.1002/ps.70248","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ps.70248","url":null,"abstract":"BACKGROUNDGenetically engineered crops that produce insecticidal proteins from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) have many benefits and are used globally to manage key insect pests, including Helicoverpa zea (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), a major pest of crops in the Americas. However, pests of at least 11 species, including H. zea, have evolved resistance to Bt crops, diminishing their effectiveness and benefits. For H. zea in the United States, practical resistance to Bt corn and cotton producing crystalline (Cry) Bt proteins is widespread and early warning of resistance to the vegetative insecticidal protein Vip3Aa has been reported. Thus, a better understanding of the genetic basis of resistance to Vip3Aa is needed to monitor, manage and counter resistance. In some strains of lepidopteran pests, resistance to Vip3Aa is associated with disruptive mutations in the chitin synthase 2 (CHS2) gene but this association had not been investigated previously in H. zea.RESULTSHere, we show that mutations introduced by CRISPR/Cas9 editing of the CHS2 gene can cause resistance to Vip3A in H. zea. Disruptive mutations in CHS2 facilitated the creation of strain CHS2-KO that had 29 000-fold resistance to Vip3Aa relative to its unedited parental susceptible strain. Resistance to Vip3Aa in CHS2-KO was autosomal, recessive, and did not cause cross-resistance to Cry1Ac or Cry2Ab.CONCLUSIONResults of this study indicate that CHS2 plays an important role in Vip3Aa intoxication in H. zea. It will be important to determine if mutations in CHS2 contribute to field-evolved resistance to Vip3Aa in H. zea and other pests. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry. This article has been contributed to by U.S. Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA.","PeriodicalId":218,"journal":{"name":"Pest Management Science","volume":"18 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-09-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145103563","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Exploration of novel dual heterocyclic-fused vanillin derivatives as potential antifungal agents for crop disease control.","authors":"Chun Yang,Nai-Rui Duan,Hao Fu,Xin-Yu Zhang,Bing-Lan Dou,Cheng-Ran Zhang,Xiao-Juan Hao,Hui Cao,Xiao-Yan Zhi","doi":"10.1002/ps.70241","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ps.70241","url":null,"abstract":"BACKGROUNDPlant natural products, which serve as innate chemical defenses against pathogens and other invasive pests, are valuable resources for novel agrochemical innovation. Vanillin, a natural antimicrobial compound, has garnered significant attention in food and agrochemical industries in recent years.RESULTSForty-one heterocycle-fused vanillin derivatives were constructed by employing a structural splicing strategy. Bioassays demonstrated that compound 6 exhibited outstanding inhibitory activity against the spore germination of Fusarium oxysporum, with an IC50 value of 7.0 μg/mL. Compounds 3a, 6, 7f, and 8 f showed superior inhibitory activity against Botrytis cinerea spores, significantly outperforming their precursor vanillin and the positive controls, difenoconazole and hymexazol. Ten selected compounds inhibited the mycelial growth of Valsa mali, with IC50 values varying from 3.1 to 30.5 ug/mL. Compound 7'j with an IC50 value of 4.7 μg/mL showed superior inhibitory potency against the mycelial growth of Alternaria solani than commercial fungicides, hymexazol and carbendazim. In vivo bioassays confirmed the notable protective efficacy of compound 3a against B. cinerea and the marked therapeutic effect of compound 7'j against A. solani. Structure-activity relationship (SAR) analysis indicated that the combination of 1,3,4-oxadiazole and benzimidazole may be the optimal scaffolds for fungicidal activity. Cytotoxicity assays revealed low to moderate effects on human keratinocyte (HaCaT), suggesting acceptable mammalian safety profile under dermal exposure for these compounds.CONCLUSIONThese findings demonstrate that the potent vanillin-derived analogs reported herein represent promising candidates for novel fungicide development. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.","PeriodicalId":218,"journal":{"name":"Pest Management Science","volume":"73 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-09-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145103564","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The significance of woody vegetation's nonproductive elements for the overwintering of key biocontrol agents in intensively used agricultural areas.","authors":"Jana Niedobová,Tomáš Kudláček","doi":"10.1002/ps.70188","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ps.70188","url":null,"abstract":"BACKGROUNDSuccessful overwintering habitats are critical for the long-term survival of biocontrol agents in agricultural landscapes, promoting ecosystem services by preserving beneficial arthropods. Although it is known that predatory arthropods overwinter in leaf litter in fruit orchards, the potential of nonproduction woody vegetation in agricultural landscapes for supporting overwintering spiders is poorly understood.RESULTSWe compared spider assemblages overwintering in leaf litter of solitary trees, woody vegetation in line, and areal formations across three types of intensively used agricultural landscapes. We recorded 2502 overwintering spiders from 83 species and 20 families, with Linyphiidae being the most abundant. Assemblage composition and abundance were significantly influenced by landscape type, woody vegetation structure, adjacent land use, vegetation identity and litter weight. Linear and areal formations supported more spiders than solitary trees. Grass and leaf litter cover, as well as litter weight, affected both abundance and community composition. No significant differences were found in guild or ballooning traits across landscapes. Spider assemblages also differed between early and late winter, with higher abundance observed at the end of the season.CONCLUSIONOur study highlights that nonproduction elements of woody vegetation are important for the overwintering of spiders in agricultural landscapes. These findings are significant for landscape planning aimed at supporting ecosystem services and biodiversity conservation through the strategic integration of noncrop habitats. © 2025 The Author(s). Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.","PeriodicalId":218,"journal":{"name":"Pest Management Science","volume":"50 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-09-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145103542","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A female aphrodisiac and male mating inhibitor: dual functions of the male-specific sex pheromone in the beet webworm, Loxostege sticticalis L.","authors":"Yunxia Cheng,Lizhi Luo,Yonghong Xiao,Thomas W Sappington,Keke Liu,Xingfu Jiang","doi":"10.1002/ps.70254","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ps.70254","url":null,"abstract":"BACKGROUNDMale insect sex pheromones play a critical role in reproductive behavior by synchronizing female receptivity and deterring rivals, thereby increasing reproductive success. As a major worldwide migratory pest, the beet webworm, Loxostege sticticalis L., has been the subject of sex pheromone research - though previous efforts have focused exclusively on female-produced signals. The male-specific sex pheromone and its functions remain largely uncharacterized. This study therefore aimed to identify the male-specific pheromones in this species and elucidate their behavioral effects on conspecifics.RESULTSGas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis of crude extracts from abdominal tips of female and male moths identified a total of 15 compounds. Thirteen compounds were detected in both sexes, whereas (E)-ocimene and (Z)-11-hexadecen-1-yl acetate (Z11-16:Ac) were male-specific, with (E)-ocimene produced at an eight-fold higher level than Z11-16:Ac. Both compounds elicited significant electrophysiological responses in antennae of both sexes. In behavioral assays, the two components used separately or as a binary blend increased calling behavior in 3- and 4-day-old females, but not in older females. In males, the binary mixture reduced courtship persistence and mating success in younger males (3-5 days old); this effect diminished in 6-day-old males.CONCLUSIONThe dual function of these male pheromones - enhancing female receptivity while suppressing conspecific male competition - represents an adaptive strategy that facilitates rapid population establishment after migration. These findings provide critical insights into chemical communication in the beet webworm and establish a mechanistic foundation for developing novel pest management strategies targeting reproductive behavior. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.","PeriodicalId":218,"journal":{"name":"Pest Management Science","volume":"38 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-09-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145103565","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}