Metabolomics Provides New Insights into the Mechanisms of <i>Wolbachia</i>-Induced Plant Defense in Cotton Mites
Endosymbiotic bacteria play a significant role in the co-evolution of insects and plants. However, whether they induce or inhibit host plant defense responses remains unclear. In this study, non-targeted metabolomic sequencing was performed on cotton leaves fed with <i>Wolbachia</i>-infe...
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2025-03-01
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| author | Xinlei Wang Sha Wang Ali Basit Qianchen Wei Kedi Zhao Feng Liu Yiying Zhao |
| author_facet | Xinlei Wang Sha Wang Ali Basit Qianchen Wei Kedi Zhao Feng Liu Yiying Zhao |
| author_sort | Xinlei Wang |
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| description | Endosymbiotic bacteria play a significant role in the co-evolution of insects and plants. However, whether they induce or inhibit host plant defense responses remains unclear. In this study, non-targeted metabolomic sequencing was performed on cotton leaves fed with <i>Wolbachia</i>-infected and uninfected spider mites using parthenogenetic backcrossing and antibiotic treatment methods. A total of 55 differential metabolites were identified, which involved lipids, phenylpropanoids, and polyketides. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis revealed seven significantly enriched metabolic pathways. Among them, flavonoid and flavonol biosynthesis, glycerophospholipid metabolism, and ether lipid metabolism showed extremely significant differences. In <i>Wolbachia</i>-infected cotton leaves, the flavonoid biosynthesis pathway was significantly up-regulated, including quercetin and myricetin, suggesting that the plant produces more secondary metabolites to enhance its defense capability. Glycerophosphocholine (GPC) and sn-glycerol-3-phosphoethanolamine (PE) were significantly down-regulated, suggesting that <i>Wolbachia</i> may impair the integrity and function of plant cell membranes. The downregulation of lysine and the upregulation of L-malic acid indicated that <i>Wolbachia</i> infection may shorten the lifespan of spider mites. At various developmental stages of the spider mites, <i>Wolbachia</i> infection increased the expression of detoxification metabolism-related genes, including gene families such as cytochrome P450, glutathione S-transferase, carboxylesterase, and ABC transporters, thereby enhancing the detoxification capability of the host spider mites. This study provides a theoretical basis for further elucidating the mechanisms by which endosymbiotic bacteria induce plant defense responses and expands the theoretical framework of insect–plant co-evolution. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-7515b3c23da44a3e8f3e222e024d6900 |
| institution | DOAJ |
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| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
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| series | Microorganisms |
| spelling | doaj-art-7515b3c23da44a3e8f3e222e024d69002025-08-20T02:42:28ZengMDPI AGMicroorganisms2076-26072025-03-0113360810.3390/microorganisms13030608Metabolomics Provides New Insights into the Mechanisms of <i>Wolbachia</i>-Induced Plant Defense in Cotton MitesXinlei Wang0Sha Wang1Ali Basit2Qianchen Wei3Kedi Zhao4Feng Liu5Yiying Zhao6College of Agriculture, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832003, ChinaCollege of Agriculture, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832003, ChinaCollege of Agriculture, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832003, ChinaCollege of Agriculture, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832003, ChinaCollege of Agriculture, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832003, ChinaCollege of Agriculture, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832003, ChinaCollege of Agriculture, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832003, ChinaEndosymbiotic bacteria play a significant role in the co-evolution of insects and plants. However, whether they induce or inhibit host plant defense responses remains unclear. In this study, non-targeted metabolomic sequencing was performed on cotton leaves fed with <i>Wolbachia</i>-infected and uninfected spider mites using parthenogenetic backcrossing and antibiotic treatment methods. A total of 55 differential metabolites were identified, which involved lipids, phenylpropanoids, and polyketides. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis revealed seven significantly enriched metabolic pathways. Among them, flavonoid and flavonol biosynthesis, glycerophospholipid metabolism, and ether lipid metabolism showed extremely significant differences. In <i>Wolbachia</i>-infected cotton leaves, the flavonoid biosynthesis pathway was significantly up-regulated, including quercetin and myricetin, suggesting that the plant produces more secondary metabolites to enhance its defense capability. Glycerophosphocholine (GPC) and sn-glycerol-3-phosphoethanolamine (PE) were significantly down-regulated, suggesting that <i>Wolbachia</i> may impair the integrity and function of plant cell membranes. The downregulation of lysine and the upregulation of L-malic acid indicated that <i>Wolbachia</i> infection may shorten the lifespan of spider mites. At various developmental stages of the spider mites, <i>Wolbachia</i> infection increased the expression of detoxification metabolism-related genes, including gene families such as cytochrome P450, glutathione S-transferase, carboxylesterase, and ABC transporters, thereby enhancing the detoxification capability of the host spider mites. This study provides a theoretical basis for further elucidating the mechanisms by which endosymbiotic bacteria induce plant defense responses and expands the theoretical framework of insect–plant co-evolution.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13/3/608<i>Tetranychus turkestani</i><i>Wolbachia</i>mite–cotton interactionmetabolomics |
| spellingShingle | Xinlei Wang Sha Wang Ali Basit Qianchen Wei Kedi Zhao Feng Liu Yiying Zhao Metabolomics Provides New Insights into the Mechanisms of <i>Wolbachia</i>-Induced Plant Defense in Cotton Mites Microorganisms <i>Tetranychus turkestani</i> <i>Wolbachia</i> mite–cotton interaction metabolomics |
| title | Metabolomics Provides New Insights into the Mechanisms of <i>Wolbachia</i>-Induced Plant Defense in Cotton Mites |
| title_full | Metabolomics Provides New Insights into the Mechanisms of <i>Wolbachia</i>-Induced Plant Defense in Cotton Mites |
| title_fullStr | Metabolomics Provides New Insights into the Mechanisms of <i>Wolbachia</i>-Induced Plant Defense in Cotton Mites |
| title_full_unstemmed | Metabolomics Provides New Insights into the Mechanisms of <i>Wolbachia</i>-Induced Plant Defense in Cotton Mites |
| title_short | Metabolomics Provides New Insights into the Mechanisms of <i>Wolbachia</i>-Induced Plant Defense in Cotton Mites |
| title_sort | metabolomics provides new insights into the mechanisms of i wolbachia i induced plant defense in cotton mites |
| topic | <i>Tetranychus turkestani</i> <i>Wolbachia</i> mite–cotton interaction metabolomics |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13/3/608 |
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