Systemic Acquired Resistance: Plant Priming for Ecological Management of Mealybug-Induced Wilt in MD2 and Queen Victoria Pineapples
Pineapples are highly susceptible to “Wilt disease”, caused by the biotrophic insect <i>Dysmicoccus brevipes</i> that also transmits several Wilt-associated viruses (PMWaVs). Conventional farms manage mealybugs and Wilt disease using chemicals. However, many of these chemicals have been...
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2025-01-01
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| author | Alain Soler Corentin Pochat Marie Perrin Jessica Mendoza Flora Latchimy |
| author_facet | Alain Soler Corentin Pochat Marie Perrin Jessica Mendoza Flora Latchimy |
| author_sort | Alain Soler |
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| description | Pineapples are highly susceptible to “Wilt disease”, caused by the biotrophic insect <i>Dysmicoccus brevipes</i> that also transmits several Wilt-associated viruses (PMWaVs). Conventional farms manage mealybugs and Wilt disease using chemicals. However, many of these chemicals have been banned in Europe due to safety concerns, leading to a critical need for studies on pesticide-free control methods. During their evolution, plants have developed natural defences, such as systemic acquired resistance (SAR), against pathogens and pests. In this study, salicylic acid (10<sup>−3</sup> M) was applied to MD2 and Queen Victoria pineapple plants as a foliar spray or soil drench, followed by mealybug infestation. This treatment enhanced defences, assessed through mealybug multiplication rates, and biochemical and molecular responses of tissue-cultured plantlets under controlled conditions. Phenylalanine ammonia-lyase activity (PAL) was measured as a potential SAR signalling enzymatic marker. Additionally, the expression levels of four genes were analyzed, which included <i>AcPAL</i> and <i>AcICS2</i>, both linked to salicylic acid synthesis; <i>AcMYB</i>-like, a transcription factor regulating salicylic acid biosynthesis; and <i>AcCAT</i>, which is involved in H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> level control in plants. SA elicitation reduced the mealybug multiplication rate by 70% on pineapples compared to untreated plants. In this study, the biochemical marker (PAL) and three molecular markers (<i>AcPAL</i>, <i>AcICS2</i>, and <i>AcCAT</i>) showed significant differences between primed and unprimed plants, indicating SAR induction and its role in the pineapple–mealybug interaction. In MD2 and Queen Victoria, PAL increased by 2.3 and 1.5, respectively, while <i>AcPAL</i> increased by 4 and more than 10. The other molecular markers, <i>AcICS2</i>, <i>AcCAT</i>, and <i>AcMYB</i>-like (a transcription factor), increased by 3, except for the last one in Queen Victoria. The reduction in mealybug populations with SAR is less effective than with pesticides, but it provides a valuable alternative on Réunion Island, where the only remaining insecticide will soon be banned. In addition, SAR priming offers a promising, eco-friendly strategy for managing mealybug populations and reducing Wilt disease in pesticide-free pineapple cropping systems. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-28d704bd5d1e4fc885ad18e18eb98466 |
| institution | OA Journals |
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| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-28d704bd5d1e4fc885ad18e18eb984662025-08-20T02:12:37ZengMDPI AGAgriculture2077-04722025-01-0115326410.3390/agriculture15030264Systemic Acquired Resistance: Plant Priming for Ecological Management of Mealybug-Induced Wilt in MD2 and Queen Victoria PineapplesAlain Soler0Corentin Pochat1Marie Perrin2Jessica Mendoza3Flora Latchimy4CIRAD, UPR GECO, F-97455 Saint-Pierre, FranceCIRAD, UPR GECO, F-97455 Saint-Pierre, FranceAgroecology and Environment Research Unit, ISARA-Lyon, F-84918 Avignon, FranceBioplants Center, University of Ciego de Avila, Ciego de Avila 65300, CubaCIRAD, UPR GECO, F-97455 Saint-Pierre, FrancePineapples are highly susceptible to “Wilt disease”, caused by the biotrophic insect <i>Dysmicoccus brevipes</i> that also transmits several Wilt-associated viruses (PMWaVs). Conventional farms manage mealybugs and Wilt disease using chemicals. However, many of these chemicals have been banned in Europe due to safety concerns, leading to a critical need for studies on pesticide-free control methods. During their evolution, plants have developed natural defences, such as systemic acquired resistance (SAR), against pathogens and pests. In this study, salicylic acid (10<sup>−3</sup> M) was applied to MD2 and Queen Victoria pineapple plants as a foliar spray or soil drench, followed by mealybug infestation. This treatment enhanced defences, assessed through mealybug multiplication rates, and biochemical and molecular responses of tissue-cultured plantlets under controlled conditions. Phenylalanine ammonia-lyase activity (PAL) was measured as a potential SAR signalling enzymatic marker. Additionally, the expression levels of four genes were analyzed, which included <i>AcPAL</i> and <i>AcICS2</i>, both linked to salicylic acid synthesis; <i>AcMYB</i>-like, a transcription factor regulating salicylic acid biosynthesis; and <i>AcCAT</i>, which is involved in H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> level control in plants. SA elicitation reduced the mealybug multiplication rate by 70% on pineapples compared to untreated plants. In this study, the biochemical marker (PAL) and three molecular markers (<i>AcPAL</i>, <i>AcICS2</i>, and <i>AcCAT</i>) showed significant differences between primed and unprimed plants, indicating SAR induction and its role in the pineapple–mealybug interaction. In MD2 and Queen Victoria, PAL increased by 2.3 and 1.5, respectively, while <i>AcPAL</i> increased by 4 and more than 10. The other molecular markers, <i>AcICS2</i>, <i>AcCAT</i>, and <i>AcMYB</i>-like (a transcription factor), increased by 3, except for the last one in Queen Victoria. The reduction in mealybug populations with SAR is less effective than with pesticides, but it provides a valuable alternative on Réunion Island, where the only remaining insecticide will soon be banned. In addition, SAR priming offers a promising, eco-friendly strategy for managing mealybug populations and reducing Wilt disease in pesticide-free pineapple cropping systems.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/15/3/264pineapple wilt<i>Dysmicoccus</i> spp.biocontrolSARintegrated management of mealybugsecological control |
| spellingShingle | Alain Soler Corentin Pochat Marie Perrin Jessica Mendoza Flora Latchimy Systemic Acquired Resistance: Plant Priming for Ecological Management of Mealybug-Induced Wilt in MD2 and Queen Victoria Pineapples Agriculture pineapple wilt <i>Dysmicoccus</i> spp. biocontrol SAR integrated management of mealybugs ecological control |
| title | Systemic Acquired Resistance: Plant Priming for Ecological Management of Mealybug-Induced Wilt in MD2 and Queen Victoria Pineapples |
| title_full | Systemic Acquired Resistance: Plant Priming for Ecological Management of Mealybug-Induced Wilt in MD2 and Queen Victoria Pineapples |
| title_fullStr | Systemic Acquired Resistance: Plant Priming for Ecological Management of Mealybug-Induced Wilt in MD2 and Queen Victoria Pineapples |
| title_full_unstemmed | Systemic Acquired Resistance: Plant Priming for Ecological Management of Mealybug-Induced Wilt in MD2 and Queen Victoria Pineapples |
| title_short | Systemic Acquired Resistance: Plant Priming for Ecological Management of Mealybug-Induced Wilt in MD2 and Queen Victoria Pineapples |
| title_sort | systemic acquired resistance plant priming for ecological management of mealybug induced wilt in md2 and queen victoria pineapples |
| topic | pineapple wilt <i>Dysmicoccus</i> spp. biocontrol SAR integrated management of mealybugs ecological control |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/15/3/264 |
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