Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology

Cytokinins Promote Rust Susceptibility in Poplar by Suppressing Defence Signalling, Reducing Defence Accumulation and Reprogramming Primary Metabolism

ABSTRACT Cytokinins (CKs), classically recognised as plant growth regulators, are increasingly implicated in plant‐microbe interactions. Studies in herbaceous plants suggest that CKs can function as signalling molecules with dual roles in plant defence, either restricting or faci...

The ABCG transporter OsPDR17 mediates transport of 5,10‐diketo‐casbene and enhances disease resistance in rice

Compound 5,10-diketo-casbene (DKC) is a key macrocyclic diterpenoid phytoalexin contributing to rice resistance against bacterial blight. Although its activity depends on transmembrane transport, the transporter of DKC remains unknown. Using transcriptome profiling and a yeast ex...

Evolutionary dynamics of plant cell wall-degrading enzymes reflects feeding ecology in weevils

Abstract Many herbivorous beetles depend on plant cell wall-degrading enzymes (PCWDEs) to access the nutritious plant cell content. However, the evolution of PCWDEs in weevils, the most diverse lineage of herbivores, remains poorly understood. Using transcriptomic and genomic ana...

Enhancement of Circular Dichroism in Chiral Dielectric Metasurfaces by Ion Beam Irradiation

ABSTRACT Resonant chiral dielectric metasurfaces can support circular dichroism exceeding that of natural materials, but their small dissipative losses simultaneously limit the maximization of circular dichroism, which inherently relies on absorption. Importantly, while the condi...

Insights Into the Nature of Quantum Emitters in Electron‐Irradiated Hexagonal Boron Nitride

ABSTRACT Quantum emitters in hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) have emerged as a promising solid‐state platform for quantum technology applications. However, a persistent challenge in the field is the unclear origin of many observed emission lines, particularly in the visible range,...

Metabolic plasticity supports a flexible nutritional symbiosis in Cardiocondyla ants

Abstract Nutritional symbioses have repeatedly evolved in insects, yet how hosts regulate these partnerships to balance benefits across development and environments remains unclear. Ants provide an exceptional system to address this question, as several lineages maintain ancient...

Herbivory‐Induced Stomatal Opening Triggers the Dispersal of an Invasive Insect Herbivore

Stomata play important roles in plant responses to phytopathogens, but less is known about their roles in plant-herbivore interactions. Herbivore damage commonly closes stomata but also elicits the release of herbivory-induced plant volatiles, important mediators of plant-herbivo...

Single and MultipleInfestation by Coccoid Pests inCoffee Shape Plant Chemical Defenses and Interactions Across TrophicLevels

Abstract Crop plants are attacked by multiple pests, inducing metabolic changes that shape interactions across trophic levels and influence the effectiveness of biological control. We examined how infestation by the coccoids Coccus viridis (scales) and Planococcus citri (mealybug...

Pangenome analyses reveal divergence and extensive introgression in two global corn pests

Introgression between closely related species can profoundly influence evolutionary trajectories, yet how genomic divergence interacts with introgression, especially in invasive hybridization, remains insufficiently understood. Structural variants (SVs), particularly chromosomal...