Herbivore-induced reprogramming of surface hydrocarbons mediates short-range chemical defense in legumes

Herbivore-induced reprogramming of surface hydrocarbons mediates short-range chemical defense in legumes | Authorea try { document.documentElement.classList.add('js'); } catch (e) { } var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'G-8VDV14Y67G']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })(); Skip to main content Preprints Collections Wiley Open Research IET Open Research Ecological Society of Japan All Collections About About Authorea FAQs Contact Us Quick Search anywhere Search for preprint articles, keywords, etc. Search Search ADVANCED SEARCH SCROLL This is a preprint and has not been peer reviewed. Data may be preliminary. 31 December 2025 V1 Latest version Share on Herbivore-induced reprogramming of surface hydrocarbons mediates short-range chemical defense in legumes Authors : Ramasamy Kanagaraj Murali-Baskaran 0000-0002-0695-8389 [email protected] , Yogesh Yele , Kailash Chander Sharma , Palaiyur Nanjappan Sivalingam , Periyakaman Chandramani , and Jayanthi mala Beegam Ramakrishnaiah Authors Info & Affiliations https://doi.org/10.22541/au.176719524.48486727/v1 119 views 64 downloads Contents Abstract Supplementary Material Information & Authors Metrics & Citations View Options References Figures Tables Media Share Abstract Background: Inducible chemical defences in plants are commonly interpreted through the lens of highly volatile compounds involved in long-distance signalling, whereas the ecological roles of low-volatility, lipid-derived metabolites remain poorly resolved. Long-chain hydrocarbons are abundant components of plant cuticles, but whether they are dynamically regulated by herbivory and contribute to plant–herbivore interactions at short spatial scales is largely unknown. Methods: We examined herbivore-induced changes in volatile chemistry across four legume species (Glycine max, Vignaradiata, V. mungo and V. unguiculata) subjected to feeding by the phloem-feeding whitefly Bemisia tabaci. Comparative GC–MS profiling was combined with behavioural assays to evaluate the effects of induced hydrocarbons on adult whitefly settlement. Results: Whitefly feeding consistently increased the relative abundance of long-chain saturated hydrocarbons across all legume species, indicating conserved reprogramming of lipid-derived metabolism. Behavioural assays showed that representative induced hydrocarbons, particularly eicosane and squalane, significantly reduced adult settlement, with effects expressed primarily through surface-associated rather than airborne mechanisms. The strength and persistence of deterrence varied among host species, consistent with interspecific differences in leaf surface properties and cuticular context. Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate that inducible plant defences extend beyond classical volatile-mediated signalling to include surface-associated hydrocarbons that operate at short spatial scales. By linking herbivory-driven metabolic reallocation with changes in cuticle chemistry and herbivore behaviour, this study identifies long-chain hydrocarbons as an ecologically significant and underappreciated component of plant–herbivore interactions. Supplementary Material File (oik-12305-file001.docx) Download 78.20 KB File (oik-12305-file002.docx) Download 19.50 KB File (oik-12305-file003.docx) Download 23.80 KB Information & Authors Information Version history V1 Version 1 31 December 2025 Copyright This work is licensed under a Non Exclusive No Reuse License. Keywords herbivore-induced metabolism inducible chemical defence lipid-derived hydrocarbons phloem-feeding insects plant–herbivore interactions spatial scale of defense Authors Affiliations Ramasamy Kanagaraj Murali-Baskaran 0000-0002-0695-8389 [email protected] View all articles by this author Yogesh Yele View all articles by this author Kailash Chander Sharma View all articles by this author Palaiyur Nanjappan Sivalingam View all articles by this author Periyakaman Chandramani View all articles by this author Jayanthi mala Beegam Ramakrishnaiah View all articles by this author Metrics & Citations Metrics Article Usage 119 views 64 downloads .FvxKWukQNSOunydq8rnd { width: 100px; } Citations Download citation Ramasamy Kanagaraj Murali-Baskaran, Yogesh Yele, Kailash Chander Sharma, et al. Herbivore-induced reprogramming of surface hydrocarbons mediates short-range chemical defense in legumes. Authorea . 31 December 2025. 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