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The importance of root-produced volatiles as foraging cues for entomopathogenic nematodes

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Abstract

Background

Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) are tiny parasitic worms that parasitize insects, in which they reproduce. Their foraging behavior has been subject to numerous studies, most of which have proposed that, at short distances, EPNs use chemicals that are emitted directly from the host as host location cues. Carbon dioxide (CO2) in particular has been implicated as an important cue. Recent evidence shows that at longer distances several EPNs take advantage of volatiles that are specifically emitted by roots in response to insect attack. Studies that have revealed these plant-mediated interactions among three trophic levels have been met with some disbelief.

Scope

This review aims to take away this skepticism by summarizing the evidence for a role of root volatiles as foraging cues for EPNs. To reinforce our argument, we conducted olfactometer assays in which we directly compared the attraction of an EPN species to CO2 and two typical inducible root volatiles.

Conclusions

The combination of the ubiquitous gas and a more specific root volatile was found to be considerably more attractive than one of the two alone. Hence, future studies on EPN foraging behavior should take into account that CO2 and plant volatiles may work in synergy as attractants for EPNs. Recent research efforts also reveal prospects of exploiting plant-produced signals to improve the biological control of insect pests in the rhizosphere.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. FARCE Laboratory, Institute of Biology, University of Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel, Switzerland

    Ted C. J. Turlings

  2. University of Missouri, 205 Curtis Hall, Columbia, MO, 65211-7020, USA

    Ivan Hiltpold

  3. Institute of Evolution and Ecology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland

    Sergio Rasmann

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  1. Ted C. J. Turlings
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  2. Ivan Hiltpold
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  3. Sergio Rasmann
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Correspondence to Ted C. J. Turlings.

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Turlings, T.C.J., Hiltpold, I. & Rasmann, S. The importance of root-produced volatiles as foraging cues for entomopathogenic nematodes. Plant Soil 358, 51–60 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-012-1295-3

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