Isoprene deters insect herbivory by priming plant hormone responses

Isoprene, emitted by some plants, deters insect herbivory. However, the associated biochemical and physiological responses that confer herbivory resistance remain unknown. We used tobacco plants engineered to emit isoprene (IE) and the non-emitting control (NE) to interpret isoprene-mediated defense against herbivory in plants. Hornworm larvae raised on IE plants exhibited stunted growth compared to those raised on NE plants. Worms preferred to feed on NE rather than IE leaves, indicating deterrent effects of isoprene on insect feeding. Worm feeding induced a greater increase in jasmonic acid (JA), a crucial hormone for insect resistance, in IE leaves compared to NE leaves. Assimilation rates were stably maintained in IE plants suggesting a protective role of isoprene in preserving photosynthetic efficiency during insect herbivory. Wound-induced increase in isoprene emission correlated with the elevation of key metabolites of the isoprene biosynthesis pathway. Our results highlight JA-p..., , , # Isoprene deters insect herbivory by priming plant hormone responses

[https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.9cnp5hqwj](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.9cnp5hqwj)

## Description of the data and file structure

The goal of this project was to identify the underlying physiological and biochemical changes in isoprene-emitting (IE) plants during insect herbivory to understand why IE plants are more pest-resistant.

### Files and variables

* Fig 1b: Quantification of white fly infestation per cm2 leaf area in NE and IE plants
* Fig 2c: Comparison of hornworm larval weight reared on IE and NE plants for 10 days (note: 16 worms were recovered from NE plants at the end of the experiment, hence last three rows have NA)
* Fig 2e: Quantification of leaf consumption 90 min after placing worms on a pair of IE and NE leaf
* Fig 3a-c: Changes in assimilation rates (*A)*, intercellular CO2 concentration (*Ci)*, and stomatal conductance (*gsw) *recorded during worm feeding in NE and IE leaves.
* Fig 4: Change ...,