A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
The Role of Phenylpropanoids and the Plant Microbiome in Defences of Ash Trees Against Invasive Emerald Ash Borer
Authors: Zhang, Bin; Koski, Tuuli-Marjaana; Wang, Hualing; Chen, Zhenzhu; Li, Huiping; Mogouong, Judith; Bushley, Kathryn E.; Xing, Longsheng; Sun, Jianghua
Publisher: Wiley
Publishing place: HOBOKEN
Publication year: 2025
Journal: Plant, Cell and Environment
Journal name in source: Plant, Cell & Environment
Journal acronym: PLANT CELL ENVIRON
Number of pages: 19
ISSN: 0140-7791
eISSN: 1365-3040
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/pce.15534
Web address : https://doi.org/10.1111/pce.15534
Plants have coevolved with herbivorous insects for millions of years, resulting in variation in resistance both within and between species. Using a manipulative experiment combined with untargeted metabolomics, microbiome sequencing and transcriptomics approaches, we investigated the roles of plant metabolites and the microbiome in defence mechanisms in native resistant Manchurian ash (Fraxinus mandshurica) trees and non-native susceptible velvet ash (Fraxinus velutina) trees against the highly invasive emerald ash borer (EAB, Agrilus planipennis). Comparative transcriptomics and metabolomics analyses show that the phenylpropanoid pathway, which is enriched in differentially expressed genes and differentially abundant metabolites, may serve as a potential regulator of resistance. Additionally, the microbiome is distinctly shifted in two ash species. Indicator taxa analysis reveals that the distinct genera are dominant in the galleries of two ash species, for example, Pseudomonas in velvet, and Hafnia-Obesumbacterium in Manchurian. The strong correlation between indicator taxa and metabolites suggests that the chemical compounds might impact the microbial community in phloem directly or indirectly, or vice versa. This study significantly enhances our understanding of the variation in resistance between ash species and its contribution to the invasion success of EAB, providing valuable insights for the development of pest management strategies.
Funding information in the publication:
This study was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant nos. 32061123002 and 32088102) and the U.S. National Science Foundation Dimensions of Biodiversity Grant (no. 2030036). We are also grateful to Collaborative Innovation Center for Baiyangdian Basin Ecological Protection and Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Sustainable Development project, Natural Science Foundation of Hebei Province (C2022201042) and Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation (00240157).
