New research finds maize under simultaneous root and leaf pest attack releases distinct root chemicals that strongly attract wireworms. Scientists recreated the cue as a synthetic blend, effective in lab, semi-field and field tests. The discovery highlights the rhizosphere’s role in crop protection and could support sustainable attract-and-trap wireworm management strategies.
The post Maize Under Siege Attracts More Pests appeared first on Seed World.
New research shows that maize plants attacked both above and below ground release a distinct blend of root chemicals that strongly attracts wireworms, pests that damage roots and seeds and can cause major yield losses.
The study found that when wireworms feed on maize roots while European corn borer caterpillars attack the leaves, the plants produce a unique chemical signature in the rhizosphere, the narrow zone of soil surrounding roots. This signature, made up of small lipophilic molecules, drew wireworms far more strongly than undamaged plants or plants attacked by only one pest. Researchers recreated the cue as a synthetic blend, which attracted wireworms in laboratory, semi-field and field conditions. The findings offer rare insight into how plants coordinate responses to multiple attackers and point to the rhizosphere as a largely untapped area for crop protection.
“Most research on insect communication in crops has focused above ground, but a huge amount of ecological interaction happens below the soil surface,” said Dr József Vuts from Rothamsted Research, “We’ve shown that root chemicals can shape the behaviour of a major pest, creating exciting opportunities for smarter and more sustainable pest management.”
The findings suggest these newly identified chemical cues could be used in attract-and-trap systems or other ecological approaches to manage wireworms and reduce reliance on conventional pesticides, according to a press release.
The study also expands understanding of how plants respond to attacks across different tissues. Rather than reacting separately to root and leaf damage, maize produces a systemic response that changes its chemistry and influences pest behaviour. The researchers note that these root-derived compounds likely work alongside other cues, including carbon dioxide and soil conditions, that help wireworms locate host plants.
Beyond pest management, the work highlights the rhizosphere as a dynamic but still poorly understood environment where plants, insects and microbes continually interact. Identifying the individual compounds responsible for wireworm attraction will be an important next step.
The post Maize Under Siege Attracts More Pests appeared first on Seed World.