TY  - JOUR
AU  - ZHANG, Chuan-Qin
AU  - CHEN, Xue-Song
AU  - TAO, Jing
PY  - 2025
TI  - Analysis of metabolites and volatiles change in the root system of Pinus thunbergii infested with Hylurgus ligniperda
JO  - Journal of Environmental Entomology
SN  - 1674-0858
SP  - 1735
EP  - 1749
VL  - 47
IS  - 6
AB  - Pinus thunbergii is one of the main species in the coastal protection forests of the Jiaodong Peninsula, China. The large-scale damage caused by the invasive species Hylurgus ligniperda has seriously affected the quality of the coastal protection forests in the Jiaodong Peninsula. This study aimed to understand the changes in metabolites and volatiles in the root systems of P. thunbergii infested by H. ligniperda. Rhizosphere soils of P. thunbergii under healthy, early-stage infestation, and late-stage infestation states were collected. Additionally, volatiles of root system were collected from healthy P. thunbergii, those in the early and late stages of H. ligniperda infestation, and those with mechanical damage using the static headspace adsorption. Ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) were used to analyze rhizosphere metabolites and root volatiles, respectively. The main results are as follows: a total of 1183 metabolites were detected in the rhizosphere of P. thunbergii, among which lipids and their derivatives accounted for the largest proportion (25.87%). Rhizosphere metabolites differed among groups at different infestation stages. Compared with healthy P. thunbergii, those at the early-stage infestation showed 21 significantly differential metabolites (VIP > 1, |Log2FC| > 1, P < 0.05), including aristolone, nootkatone, ubiquinone Q2, and phosphatidylserine. In comparison with the late infestation stage, there were 24 significantly differential metabolites. The contents of soluble sugars (such as galactose, glucose, and mannose) initially decreased and then increased with the severity of H. ligniperda infestation. Thirty volatile compounds were detected in the roots of P. thunbergii, with 24, 29, and 23 volatile compounds identified in healthy roots, pest-infested roots and mechanically damaged roots, respectively. The relative content of (1R)-(+)-α-pinene was the highest, accounting for 48.21%, 56.88%, 62.77% and 58.06% in the healthy (H), early-infested (Y), late-infested (D) and mechanically damaged (J) groups, respectively. The relative contents of (1R)-(+)-α-pinene, D-limonene, (-)-β-pinene, camphene, and α-phellandrene increased in the early stage of pest infestation. However, only (1R)-(+)-α-pinene and camphene showed a continuous increase in the late stage. Additionally, camphene, as a pest-specific volatiles, decreased after mechanical damage. D-camphor (natural), borneol, 4-etheny-1,2-dimethylbenzene, fenchol, α-terpineol, and 1,8-eucalyptol were detected only in the group infested by H. ligniperda, but not in the healthy group or the mechanically damaged group. The results showed that at the early stage of H. ligniperda infestation, P. thunbergii could resist the infestation by increasing stress-resistant components such as aristolone, nootkatone, (1R)-(+)-α-pinene, D-limonene and camphene, while decreasing soluble sugar content. At the later stage of infestation, dying pines reduced stress-resistant components and increased soluble sugar content. This study revealed that nootkatone can be exploited for the development of natural derivative insecticides, while camphene holds potential for the creation of novel plant-derived attractants. These findings lay a theoretical foundation for in-depth investigations into infestation mechanisms and the development of green, efficient pest control technologies.
UR  - https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1674-0858.2025.06.5
DO  - 10.3969/j.issn.1674-0858.2025.06.5