Murugan, S S V and Marimuthu, M and Jaba, J and Yogendra, K and Volp, T M and Venkatasamy, B and Thulasy, S and Krishnani, K K (2026) Harnessing molecular insights into plant biophysical traits: Prospects for priming defense against insect pests. Plant Stress, 20. pp. 1-18. ISSN 2667-064X
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Abstract
Among plant biotic stresses, insect pests are of major concern as they directly damage plant tissues and also act as vectors for plant pathogens. The co-evolution of crops and insect pests poses persistent challenges to agricultural productivity worldwide. Chemical insecticides have long served as the primary means of pest control. However, their indiscriminate use has resulted in increased production costs, environmental and ecosystem disruption, and increased risks to human health. These limitations underscore the need for sustainable, non-chemical pest management strategies that can effectively integrate and enhance existing Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs. One of the most sustainable components of IPM is host plant resistance (HPR), in which plants employ antixenosis and antibiosis as defense strategies mediated through various biophysical, biochemical and behavioral responses. Cultivated genotypes and their wild relatives exhibit diverse resistance mechanisms against insect pests. Key biophysical traits contributing to resistance include leaf glossiness, trichome density, pod and leaf sheath pigmentation, plant vigor, pod wall thickness, cuticle thickness, lignification and other structural defenses. These biophysical traits are regulated by complex molecular and metabolic pathways that determine pest resistance. Understanding the genetic basis of these biophysical traits provides valuable opportunities for identifying and manipulating specific resistance-related genes. Deciphering the complex plant biophysical traits and their genetic basis of resistance, offers promising avenues for immune priming by developing improved crop varieties through new breeding techniques (NBTs). By integrating ecological, genetics and breeding perspectives, this review provides a coherent framework for harnessing plant biophysical traits through modern breeding and genome editing to achieve durable and sustainable insect resistance.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Divisions: | Global Research Program - Accelerated Crop Improvement |
| CRP: | UNSPECIFIED |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Biotic stress, Host plant resistance, Biophysical traits, Genetic basis of resistance, Molecular and metabolic pathways, Plant defense, Pest resistance |
| Subjects: | Others > Biotic Stress Others > Genetics and Genomics Others > Entomology |
| Depositing User: | Mr Nagaraju T |
| Date Deposited: | 29 Apr 2026 09:52 |
| Last Modified: | 29 Apr 2026 09:52 |
| URI: | http://oar.icrisat.org/id/eprint/13613 |
| Official URL: | https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/... |
| Projects: | UNSPECIFIED |
| Funders: | UNSPECIFIED |
| Acknowledgement: | All the authors acknowledge the Department of Agricultural Entomology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, and the International Crop Research Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics, Hyderabad, India, for providing necessary support and facilities. The first author acknowledges the Department of Science and Technology, Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India, New Delhi, India, for DST INSPIRE FELLOWSHIP/2023/IF230020. |
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