Differential defense responses of tropical grasses to Mahanarva spectabilis (Hemiptera: Cercopidae) infestation

The spittlebugs Mahanarva spectabilis economically challenges cattle production of neotropical regions, due to its voracious feeding on tropical grasses. Here, we evaluated biochemical responses the interaction between M. and widely cultivated grasses Brachiaria spp. (i.e., brizantha decumbens) elephant (cvs. Roxo de Botucatu Pioneiro), regarding lipoxygenases, protease inhibitors, phytohormones, proteolytic activities in midgut spectabilis. spectabilis-infested increased lipoxygenases activity, except for cv. Pioneiro. levels phytohormones jasmonic abscisic acids were similarly low all genotypes under herbivory. Furthermore, salicylic acid concentration was constitutively higher sp., increasing only spittlebug-infested B. decumbens. infestations did not induce increases inhibitors any forage grass type. trypsin activity remained unaltered, total decumbens-fed insects. Our findings revealed that most exposed activate pathway, resulting acids. However, greater amounts these hormones do inhibitory response spittlebug attack. This knowledge certainly helps guide future projects aiming at reducing impact production.