Research Projects

The ridge gourd, a popular vegetable in India and southeast Asia, is a major herbivore pest. There is no research on host recognition by Aulacophora lewisii in a chemical perspective, and no resistant germplasm has been identified or developed to protect against it. Chemical-based pesticides are used to control A. lewisii. This proposal aims to understand the semiochemicals-based interactions between ridge gourd and A. lewisii, revealing the basis of their strong relationship. Leaf surface wax chemicals inducing oviposition in A. lewisii will be identified, revealing their role in oviposition behavior. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) causing attraction of A. lewisii will be identified, revealing their role in olfactory behavior. Herbivore-induced plant volatiles (HIPVs) will be identified, and the behavior of A. lewisii and its predator, Rhynocoris fuscipes, towards HIPVs will be explored. The study will identify the responsible terpene biosynthesis genes among FDs, MDs, PMK, TPs, BCs, LLs, TPs 21, and NER1 in the isoprenoid biosynhetic pathway, allowing for transcriptional induction in the production of HIPVs. synthetic pesticides are not safe for human health and the environment, so low-cost technology like baited traps can be used for eco-friendly control. The proposed hypotheses include that A. lewisii distinguishes between odors of ridge gourd and non-host plants, indirectly increases fitness by changing the behavior of R. fuscipes after A. lewisii attack, and that activation of isoprenoid biosynthetic pathway may regulate key terpene biosynthesis genes responsible for HIPV production.