Exploiting Induced Plant Resistance for Sustainable Pest Management: Mechanisms, Elicitors, and Applications: A Review

Abstract

Plants and phytophagous (plant-eating) arthropods have coevolved over millions of years, leading to the development of both constitutive and inducible defense mechanisms in plants. Despite this long history of coexistence, it remains unclear how to precisely regulate each host-arthropod interaction to achieve an equilibrium that maximizes crop yield. The defensive chemicals produced by plants can significantly affect herbivores’ feeding behaviour, growth, and survival. These chemicals may be generated constitutively (continuously) or induced in response to herbivore damage. Induced resistance, a strategy where plants enhance their defences after being attacked, holds potential for reducing the number of insecticides needed in pest management. Chemical elicitors, which trigger the production of secondary metabolites that confer resistance to insects, can be used to manipulate host plant resistance, specifically by inducing resistance. By understanding the mechanisms underlying induced resistance, it is possible to predict which herbivores will be impacted by these responses. Applying induced response elicitors to crop plants can strengthen their natural defences against herbivore damage. Additionally, it is possible to genetically modify plants so that they constitutively produce defense chemicals, providing continuous protection in areas where herbivory is a constant threat. As part of integrated pest management, induced resistance can be used to develop crop cultivars that readily trigger an inducible response in the event of a mild infestation, contributing to sustainable agricultural practices and reducing reliance on chemical pesticides.