Plant species specific defense signal communication differentially regulates glutathione S-transferase activity and gene expression in the Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner)

Plants produce a wide variety of secondary compounds that serve as defensive agents against herbivores. In response to plant defenses, herbivores increase their production of enzymes that detoxify allelochemicals, including Glutathione S-transferases (GST). Glutathione S-transferases in insects play an important role in the detoxification of many substances including allelochemicals from plants and are involved in the adaptation of insects to host plants. In previous studies, we found that plant defense signal communication is species specific between tomato and tobacco plants. In this study, the results showed that the species special defense signal communication differentially regulated glutathione S-transferases gene expression and enzymatic activity in the Cotton bollworm Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner). In the tomato system, the glutathione S-transferases activity and gene expression in the cotton bollworm reared on the tomato is stronger than that reared on the tobacco; in the tobacco system, the glutathione S-transferases activity and gene expression in the cotton bollworm reared on the tobacco is stronger than that reared on the tomato. The results could help us better understand the delicate and profound interaction and inter-adaptation between insects and plants.