In a breakthrough study, researchers show how plants can be taught to defend themselves by altering specific genes to disrupt pest life cycles. By guiding the production of a moth-repelling pheromone, a pathway is created within a plant that threatens fewer pests and reduces the need for broad-spectrum pesticide use, offering a promising direction for sustainable agriculture.
The achievement comes from a collaboration involving the Supreme Council for Scientific Research and the Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology of Plants at the Polytechnic University of Valencia. Their work centers on turning plants into self-regulating protectors, effectively letting them steer their own health outcomes.
The team chose the Nicotiana benthamiana plant, a close relative of tobacco, because it is highly characterized genetically and easy to work with in laboratory settings. Rubén Mateos, one of the signatories of the study, notes that this plant’s genetics are well understood, which makes it a practical model for exploring how targeted gene edits can shift a plant’s defensive capabilities. The collaboration with the Earlham Institute in Norwich underscores the international interest in this approach.
Using precision genetic engineering, the researchers introduced moth-related genes into the plant to establish a metabolic route that enables the plant to synthesize female moth pheromones. Once produced, this pheromone creates a local cloud that confuses male moths and disrupts mating, which, according to Elena Moreno, a contributor to the study, helps prevent pest outbreaks without triggering broad ecological disruption.
The approach aims to minimize collateral damage by targeting a single pest species, while allowing beneficial organisms to persist. By focusing on a hormone specific to the targeted pest, the method preserves non-target insects and maintains essential plant and soil ecosystems.
The genetic modification was accomplished through a bacterial delivery system that transfers the desired genes into leaf cells. The researchers describe the process as controlled: a form of agrobacteria-mediated transfer leads to a temporary genetic integration, after which the plant regrows with the new capability.
Looking ahead, scientists believe this strategy can be adapted to other pests, including cochineal, and tailored to minimize unintended effects. This would make the technology applicable across a broader range of crops and environments, with careful management to avoid ecological imbalance.
A notable challenge observed in the study is that the production of pheromones can affect the plant’s growth. The diverted resources toward pheromone synthesis can slow development, prompting researchers to optimize expression so that pheromone production occurs only when growth is at an optimal stage. Elena Moreno emphasizes the goal of a system that activates these genes in a controlled manner, potentially triggered by external cues such as a copper-based treatment during specific growth windows.
The overarching idea is that plants could emit these pheromones only when they reach a predefined growth milestone, aligning pest defense with the crop’s developmental needs. This synchronization could preserve yield while delivering targeted pest management.
The team also contemplates extending this trait to commercial tobacco and other crops, envisioning a future where crops inherently deter pests through built-in biochemical signals rather than relying solely on chemical sprays. The researchers reiterate that their aim is to advance crop protection while maintaining environmental balance and agricultural productivity.
Reference work: Plant Biotechnology Journal, https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/pbi.14048
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