Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Metabolomic analysis identifies psoralen enhancing resistance to whiteflies in peppers, suggesting sustainable control methods.
Bemisia tabaci is a major global pest causing severe crop losses through phloem feeding and virus transmission, with heavy insecticide use driving resistance. Pepper (C. annuum) is naturally resistant to the MEAM1 whitefly, offering a model for studying inducible plant defenses. Metabolomic analysis revealed that psoralen accumulates in pepper leaves after whitefly feeding, a secondary metabolite known for insecticidal properties. Bioassays showed that psoralen significantly reduces adult survival and oviposition. Biochemical assays further indicated that psoralen inhibits key whitefly detoxification enzymes (GSTs, CarEs) and digestive enzymes (cellulase, α-amylase). These findings identify psoralen as an inducible defense metabolite contributing to pepper resistance against B. tabaci and highlight its potential for sustainable whitefly control through crop improvement or botanical insecticide development.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Han et al. (2026) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 10 related papers. Consider them for comparative context: