molecular level disturbs the equilibrium of the system. The past research has
examined many macromolecules, their function, and mode of action in the plantinsect dialogue. This has simplified the comprehension of plant-insect coevolution.
It is illustrious from the reports that plant-insect interrelation knows no bounds and
can never cease. There is a continuous competition between these two entities to
develop new counter strategies and impose pressure on the other. The repercussion
of which is the immense and perpetual diversification of the molecules. Still, the
realm in which the plant-insect arms race is occurring is very large and includes
various other environmental factors. The impact of these biotic factors on plantinsect molecular interactions needs to be investigated. A better understanding of
plant-insect communication at the molecular level accentuates its application for pest
control in agriculture.
Acknowledgments The work is supported by the research grant from the Department of Science
and Technology – Science and Engineering Research Board (DST-SERB), Government of India
under ECR/2015/000502 grant and University with Potential of Excellence (UPE Phase II),
Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune 411007, Maharashtra, India. Authors acknowledge Shounak
Jagdale for editorial assistance.
References
1. Misof B, Liu S, Meusemann K et al (2014) Phylogenomics resolves the timing and pattern of
insect evolution. Science 346:763–767. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1257570
2. Mishra M, Lomate PR, Joshi RS et al (2015) Ecological turmoil in evolutionary dynamics of
plant–insect interactions: defense to offence. Planta 242:761–771. https://doi.org/10.1007/
s00425-015-2364-7
3. Jermy T (1984) Evolution of insect/host plant relationships. Am Nat 124:609–630. https://doi.
org/10.1086/284302
4. Bennett RN, Wallsgrove RM (1994) Secondary metabolites in plant defence mechanisms.
New Phytol 127:617–633. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-8137.1994.tb02968.x
5. Després L, David JP, Gallet C (2007) The evolutionary ecology of insect resistance to plant
chemicals. Trends Ecol Evol 22:298–307. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tree.2007.02.010
6. Breedlove DE, Ehrlich PR (1968) Plant-herbivore coevolution: lupines and lycaenids. Science
162(3854):671–672. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.162.3854.671
7. Bonaventure G (2018) Plants recognize herbivorous insects by complex signalling networks.
Annu Plant Rev:1–35. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119312994.apr0505
8. Spiteller D, Oldham NJ, Boland W (2004) N-(17-phosphonooxylinolenoyl) glutamine and N(17-phosphonooxylinoleoyl) glutamine from insect gut: the first backbone-phosphorylated
fatty acid derivatives in nature. J Org Chem 69(4):1104–1109. https://doi.org/10.1021/
jo035382g
9. Whitman DW, Eller FJ (1990) Parasitic wasps orient to green leaf volatiles. Chemoecology
1(2):69–76. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01325231
10. Aljbory Z, Chen MS (2018) Indirect plant defense against insect herbivores: a review. Insect
Sci 25:2–23. https://doi.org/10.1111/1744-7917.12436
11. Mattiacci L, Dicke M, Posthumus MA (1995) Beta-glucosidase: an elicitor of herbivoreinduced plant odor that attracts host-searching parasitic wasps. Proc Natl Acad Sci
92(6):2036–2040. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.92.6.2036
38
S. S. Zunjarrao et al.
examined many macromolecules, their function, and mode of action in the plantinsect dialogue. This has simplified the comprehension of plant-insect coevolution.
It is illustrious from the reports that plant-insect interrelation knows no bounds and
can never cease. There is a continuous competition between these two entities to
develop new counter strategies and impose pressure on the other. The repercussion
of which is the immense and perpetual diversification of the molecules. Still, the
realm in which the plant-insect arms race is occurring is very large and includes
various other environmental factors. The impact of these biotic factors on plantinsect molecular interactions needs to be investigated. A better understanding of
plant-insect communication at the molecular level accentuates its application for pest
control in agriculture.
Acknowledgments The work is supported by the research grant from the Department of Science
and Technology – Science and Engineering Research Board (DST-SERB), Government of India
under ECR/2015/000502 grant and University with Potential of Excellence (UPE Phase II),
Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune 411007, Maharashtra, India. Authors acknowledge Shounak
Jagdale for editorial assistance.
References
1. Misof B, Liu S, Meusemann K et al (2014) Phylogenomics resolves the timing and pattern of
insect evolution. Science 346:763–767. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1257570
2. Mishra M, Lomate PR, Joshi RS et al (2015) Ecological turmoil in evolutionary dynamics of
plant–insect interactions: defense to offence. Planta 242:761–771. https://doi.org/10.1007/
s00425-015-2364-7
3. Jermy T (1984) Evolution of insect/host plant relationships. Am Nat 124:609–630. https://doi.
org/10.1086/284302
4. Bennett RN, Wallsgrove RM (1994) Secondary metabolites in plant defence mechanisms.
New Phytol 127:617–633. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-8137.1994.tb02968.x
5. Després L, David JP, Gallet C (2007) The evolutionary ecology of insect resistance to plant
chemicals. Trends Ecol Evol 22:298–307. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tree.2007.02.010
6. Breedlove DE, Ehrlich PR (1968) Plant-herbivore coevolution: lupines and lycaenids. Science
162(3854):671–672. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.162.3854.671
7. Bonaventure G (2018) Plants recognize herbivorous insects by complex signalling networks.
Annu Plant Rev:1–35. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119312994.apr0505
8. Spiteller D, Oldham NJ, Boland W (2004) N-(17-phosphonooxylinolenoyl) glutamine and N(17-phosphonooxylinoleoyl) glutamine from insect gut: the first backbone-phosphorylated
fatty acid derivatives in nature. J Org Chem 69(4):1104–1109. https://doi.org/10.1021/
jo035382g
9. Whitman DW, Eller FJ (1990) Parasitic wasps orient to green leaf volatiles. Chemoecology
1(2):69–76. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01325231
10. Aljbory Z, Chen MS (2018) Indirect plant defense against insect herbivores: a review. Insect
Sci 25:2–23. https://doi.org/10.1111/1744-7917.12436
11. Mattiacci L, Dicke M, Posthumus MA (1995) Beta-glucosidase: an elicitor of herbivoreinduced plant odor that attracts host-searching parasitic wasps. Proc Natl Acad Sci
92(6):2036–2040. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.92.6.2036
38
S. S. Zunjarrao et al.