A pentatomomorpha-specific salivary protein activates plant immunity and is critical for insect feeding.

ABSTRACT: The stinkbug Riptortus pedestris, notorious for inducing soybean staygreen-like syndrome, employs a range of salivary proteins to manipulate the host plant for its benefit. Here, we show that RpSP1, a salivary protein specific to Pentatomomorpha, triggers plant defense responses in multiple plant species. RpSP1 interacts with and stabilizes a HSP40 family protein GmSPIP1 and is dependent on GmSPIP1 to induce cell death. We show that a critical 22-amino acid peptide within RpSP1 acts as an intracellular insect-derived elicitor. Furthermore, RpSP1 enhances insect-feeding efficiency. The dual functionality of RpSP1 is highlighted by the significant reduction of soybean staygreen-like syndrome following its overexpression in soybean plants or knockdown in insects. Our findings elucidate

SUBMITTER: Hu B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11804711 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature