Induced Bowman-Birk trypsin inhibitor TaBBTI-1 in wheat during poor-host interactions with aphids confers broad-spectrum resistance to insect herbivores. - 2026
Induced Bowman-Birk trypsin inhibitor TaBBTI-1 in wheat during poor-host interactions with aphids confers broad-spectrum resistance to insect herbivores.
[en] Aphids are phloem-feeding insects that cause significant yield losses on major crops such as wheat. While non-host resistance is considered the most durable and efficient immune system of plants, its mechanisms against aphids remain poorly understood. Here, aphid bioassays and electrical penetration graphs allowed to classify Sitobion avenae as a host, Myzus persicae as a poor-host, and Acyrthosiphon pisum as a non-host on wheat. Pre-infestation by M. persicae induced stronger wheat resistance during poor-host interactions, significantly reducing subsequent aphid nymph production compared to S. avenae pre-infestation. Comparative transcriptomic analysis of wheat under host versus poor-host interactions uncovered that the upregulated genes induced by M. persicae infestation primarily associated with alpha-linolenic acid metabolism and jasmonic acid (JA) biosynthesis pathways. Phytohormone quantification showed that M. persicae feeding, but not S. avenae, elevated endogenous levels of JA in wheat. Notably, a Bowman-Birk trypsin inhibitor of wheat, designated as TaBBTI-1, was specifically and strongly induced by M. persicae, and exogenous JA application to wheat plants dramatically upregulated TaBBTI-1. Feeding on artificial diets supplemented with recombinant TaBBTI-1 protein and wheat leaves overexpressing TaBBTI-1 significantly impaired the fecundity of S. avenae. Furthermore, ectopic expression of TaBBTI-1 in Nicotiana tabacum dramatically reduced host susceptibility to M. persicae and lepidopteran pest Helicoverpa armigera, demonstrating broad-spectrum resistance against herbivorous insects. This study provides novel insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying non-/poor-host resistance of wheat against aphids and development of novel and durable pest control in crop plants.
Disciplines :
Entomology & pest control
Author, co-author :
Liu, Xiaobei ; Université de Liège - ULiège > TERRA Research Centre > Entomologie, Phytopathologie et Productions Innovantes (EPPI)
Zhang, Yumeng; State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 100193, Beijing, China. Electronic address: zhangyumemg1017@163.com
Francis, Frédéric ; Université de Liège - ULiège > TERRA Research Centre > Entomologie, Phytopathologie et Productions Innovantes (EPPI)
Cheng, Yumeng; State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 100193, Beijing, China. Electronic address: chengymcn@foxmail.com
Liu, Yanxia; State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 100193, Beijing, China. Electronic address: 18210058781@163.com
Chen, Julian; State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 100193, Beijing, China. Electronic address: chenjulian@caas.cn
Zhang, Yong; State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 100193, Beijing, China. Electronic address: zhangyong02@caas.cn
Language :
English
Title :
Induced Bowman-Birk trypsin inhibitor TaBBTI-1 in wheat during poor-host interactions with aphids confers broad-spectrum resistance to insect herbivores.
Publication date :
January 2026
Journal title :
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules
NSCF - National Natural Science Foundation of China Ministry of Science and Technology of the People's Republic of China. National Key Research and Development Program CAAS - Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences
Funding text :
This study was financially supported by the Beijing Natural Science Foundation ( 6242026 ); Central Public-interest Scientific Institution Basal Research Fund ( Y2025QC02 ); National Natural Science Foundation of China ( 32472558 ); National Key Research and Development Program of China ( 2024YFD1401003 , 2023YFD1400801 ).
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