Silkworms suppress the release of green leaf volatiles by mulberry leaves with an enzyme from their spinnerets.

ABSTRACT: In response to herbivory, plants emit a blend of volatile organic compounds that includes green leaf volatiles (GLVs) and terpenoids. These volatiles are known to attract natural enemies of herbivores and are therefore considered to function as an indirect defense. Selection should favor herbivores that are able to suppress these volatile emissions, and thereby make themselves less conspicuous to natural enemies. We tested this possibility for silkworms, which were observed to leave secretions from their spinnerets while feeding on mulberry leaves. When we ablated the spinnerets of silkworms, no secretions were observed. Leaves infested by intact silkworms released smaller amounts of GLVs than leaves infested by ablated silkworms, indicating that the spinneret secretion suppressed GLV prod

SUBMITTER: Takai H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6085349 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature