Involvement of jasmonate- and salicylate-related signaling pathways for the production of specific herbivore-induced volatiles in plants

We compared volatiles from lima bean leaves (Phaseolus lunatus) infested by either beet armyworm (Spodoptera exigua), common armyworm [Mythimna (Pseudaletia) separata], or two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae). We also analyzed volatiles from the leaves treated with jasmonic acid (JA) and/or methyl salicylate (MeSA). The volatiles induced by aqueous JA treatment were qualitatively and quantitatively similar to those induced by S. exigua or M. separata damage. Furthermore, both S. exigua and aqueous JA treatment induced the expression of the same basic PR genes. In contrast, gaseous MeSA treatment, and aqueous JA treatment followed by gaseous MeSA treatment, induced volatiles that was qualitatively and quantitatively more similar to the T. urticae-induced volatiles than those induced by aqueous JA treatment. In addition, T. urticae damage resulted in the expression of the acidic and basic PR genes that were induced by gaseous MeSA treatment and by aqueous JA treatment, respectively. Based on these data, we suggest that in lima bean leaves, the JA-related signaling pathway is involved in the production of caterpillar-induced volatiles, while both the SA-related signaling pathway and the JA-related signaling pathway are involved in the production of T. urticae-induced volatiles.