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Defensive Role of Tomato Polyphenol Oxidases against Cotton Bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera) and Beet Armyworm (Spodoptera exigua)

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Abstract

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) polyphenol oxidases (PPOs), enzymes that oxidize phenolics to quinones, have been implicated in plant resistance to insects. The role of PPO in resistance to cotton bollworm [Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner)] and beet armyworm [Spodoptera exigua (Hübner)] (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) was evaluated. Consumption, weight gains, and mortality of larvae feeding on foliage of transgenic tomato lines overexpressing PPO (OP lines) and of larvae feeding on foliage of transgenic tomato lines with suppressed PPO (SP lines) were compared with consumption, weight gains, and mortality of larvae feeding on non-transformed (NT) plants. Increases in foliage consumption and weight gains were observed for cotton bollworms feeding on leaves of SP plants compared to NT and OP plants. PPO activity was negatively correlated with both weight gains and foliar consumption of cotton bollworm, substantiating the defensive role of PPO against this insect. Similarly, beet armyworm consumed less foliage (both young and old leaves) from OP plants than SP plants. Larvae feeding on OP leaves generally exhibited lower weight gains than those feeding on SP leaves. These results indicate that tomato PPO plays a role in resistance to both cotton bollworm and beet armyworm.

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Acknowledgments

This research was partially supported by TRF-Master Research Grants from the Thailand Research Fund and the Center of Excellence on Agricultural Biotechnology, Postgraduate Education and Research Development Office, Commission on Higher Education, Ministry of Education, Thailand.

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  1. School of Crop Production Technology, Institute of Agricultural Technology, Suranaree University of Technology, 111 University Avenue, Muang District, Nakhon Ratchasima, 30000, Thailand

    Anongnut Bhonwong, Jutharat Attajarusit & Piyada Tantasawat

  2. Department of Entomology, Louisiana State University, 402 Life Sciences building, Baton Rouge, LA, 70803, USA

    Michael J. Stout

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  1. Anongnut Bhonwong
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Correspondence to Piyada Tantasawat.

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Bhonwong, A., Stout, M.J., Attajarusit, J. et al. Defensive Role of Tomato Polyphenol Oxidases against Cotton Bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera) and Beet Armyworm (Spodoptera exigua). J Chem Ecol 35, 28–38 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10886-008-9571-7

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