Rice Defense Responses Orchestrated by Oral Bacteria of the Rice Striped Stem Borer, Chilo suppressalis

Abstract

Key Message The incorporation of antibiotics to field-collected Chilo suppressalis larvae significantly reduce bacterial quantities and affect larval performance on rice plants. Field-collected Chilo suppressalis larvae deposit abundant bacteria onto feeding sites through oral secretion, which modulate defense responses in rice plants. Bacteria isolated from larval oral secretion (such as Enterobacter and Acinetobacter) contribute to preventing rice plants to fully activate jasmonic acid-mediated antiherbivore defenses. Our results indicate insect-associated bacteria play an important role for C. suppressalis to adapt to rice plants, which could also be treated as targets for developing novel pest management strategies.

Keywords

• Chilo suppressalis
• Oral secretion
• Symbiotic bacteria
• Oryza sativa
• Induced defense