Abstract

Plants exhibit various defense mechanisms against pathogens and herbivores, which are induced by pathogen/herbivore-derived elicitors. Ascogaster reticulata (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) is an egg-larval parasitoid of the smaller tea tortrix moth Adoxophyes honmai (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), a serious pest moth of tea plants. In tea plants, egg deposition by A. honmai induces tea leaves to arrest A. reticulata. In a previous study, homogenate of the whole reproductive system from female moths showed elicitor activity that induced tea plant responses. The present study aimed to understand the elicitor-mediated interactions among the tea plant, A. honmai moth, and A. reticulata parasitoid to clarify the elicitor-secreting organs and characterize the elicitors. Investigation of elicitor activity that induced tea leaves to arrest parasitoids in leaves treated with homogenates of each organ of the reproductive system revealed the elicitor activity only in leaves treated with the homogenates of accessory glands, but not those of other organs. Furthermore, proteinase treatment of accessory gland homogenates resulted in loss of elicitor activity. These results suggest that elicitors derived from egg deposition by A. honmai, which induce tea leaves to arrest parasitoids, are proteinaceous compounds specifically contained in the accessory glands of female moths. Our findings contribute to identifying the elicitors and the application of biological control in tea fields.

中文翻译：

---

Adoxophyes honmai 的雌性附属腺含有诱发茶叶的激发子，可阻止卵幼虫寄生蜂 Ascogaster reticulata

摘要

植物表现出多种针对病原体和食草动物的防御机制，这些机制是由病原体/食草动物衍生的激发子诱导的。Ascogaster reticulata （膜翅目：茧蜂科）是较小的茶蛾Adoxophyes honmai （鳞翅目：Tortricidae）的卵幼虫寄生蜂，茶蛾是一种严重的茶树害虫。在茶树中，A. honmai的卵沉积会诱导茶叶捕获A. reticulata。在之前的一项研究中，雌蛾整个生殖系统的匀浆显示出诱导子活性，可诱导茶树反应。本研究旨在了解茶树、A. honmai蛾和A. reticulata寄生蜂之间诱导子介导的相互作用，以阐明诱导子分泌器官并表征诱导子。对诱导茶叶阻止用生殖系统各器官匀浆处理的叶子中的寄生蜂的诱导子活性的研究表明，仅在用辅助腺匀浆处理的叶子中存在诱导子活性，而在其他器官的匀浆中则没有。此外，副腺匀浆的蛋白酶处理导致激发子活性丧失。这些结果表明，源自A. honmai卵沉积的激发子（诱导茶叶阻止寄生蜂）是雌蛾附属腺中特异含有的蛋白质化合物。我们的研究结果有助于识别诱导子以及生物防治在茶田中的应用。