{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,19]],"date-time":"2026-08-19T19:29:27Z","timestamp":1787167767704,"version":"build-2736575974"},"reference-count":50,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"10","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2024,10,15]],"date-time":"2024-10-15T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1728950400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Slovenian Research Agency","award":["J4-3090"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["J4-3090"]}]},{"name":"Slovenian Research Agency","award":["J4-50135"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["J4-50135"]}]},{"name":"Slovenian Research Agency","award":["P4-0431"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["P4-0431"]}]},{"name":"Slovenian Research Agency","award":["P1-0005"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["P1-0005"]}]},{"name":"Slovenian Research Agency","award":["P1-0164"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["P1-0164"]}]},{"name":"Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Food of Phytosanitary Administration of the Republic of Slovenia","award":["J4-3090"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["J4-3090"]}]},{"name":"Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Food of Phytosanitary Administration of the Republic of Slovenia","award":["J4-50135"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["J4-50135"]}]},{"name":"Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Food of Phytosanitary Administration of the Republic of Slovenia","award":["P4-0431"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["P4-0431"]}]},{"name":"Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Food of Phytosanitary Administration of the Republic of Slovenia","award":["P1-0005"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["P1-0005"]}]},{"name":"Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Food of Phytosanitary Administration of the Republic of Slovenia","award":["P1-0164"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["P1-0164"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Insects"],"abstract":"<jats:p>This study of underground multitrophic communication, involving plant roots, insects, and parasitic nematodes, is an emerging field with significant implications for understanding plant\u2013insect\u2013nematode interactions. Our research investigated the impact of wireworm (Agriotes lineatus L. [Coleoptera: Elateridae]) infestations on the ascorbate\u2013glutathione system in sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) plants in order to study the potential role in root-exudate-mediated nematode chemotaxis. We observed that an A. lineatus infestation led to a decrease in leaf ascorbate levels and an increase in root ascorbate, with corresponding increases in the glutathione content in both roots and leaves. Additionally, a pigment analysis revealed increased carotenoid and chlorophyll levels and a shift towards a de-epoxidized state in the xanthophyll cycle. These changes suggest an individual and integrated regulatory function of photosynthetic pigments accompanied with redox modifications of the ascorbate\u2013glutathione system that enhance plant defense. We also noted changes in the root volatile organic compound (VOC). Limonene, methyl salicylate, and benzyl salicylate decreased, whereas hexanal, neoisopulegol, nonanal, phenylethyl alcohol, m-di-tert-butylbenzene, and trans-\u03b2-ionone increased in the roots of attacked plants compared to the control group. Most notably, the VOC hexanal and amino acid exudate cysteine were tested for the chemotaxis assay. Nematode responses to chemoattractants were found to be species-specific, influenced by environmental conditions such as temperature. This study highlights the complexity of nematode chemotaxis and suggests that VOC-based biological control strategies must consider nematode foraging strategies and environmental factors. Future research should further explore these dynamics to optimize nematode management in agricultural systems.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/insects15100805","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2024,10,16]],"date-time":"2024-10-16T10:11:04Z","timestamp":1729073464000},"page":"805","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":3,"title":["Navigational Signals for Insect and Slug Parasitic Nematodes: The Role of Ascorbate\u2013Glutathione System and Volatiles Released by Insect-Damaged Sweet Pepper Roots"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"15","author":[{"given":"\u017diga","family":"Laznik","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Agronomy, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Jamnikarjeva 101, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Mitja","family":"Kri\u017eman","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"National Institute of Chemistry, Hajdrihova 19, SI-1001 Ljubljana, Slovenia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3647-4024","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Jure","family":"Zeki\u010d","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"National Institute of Chemistry, Hajdrihova 19, SI-1001 Ljubljana, Slovenia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Mihaela","family":"Ro\u0161kari\u010d","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Maribor, Pivola 10, SI-2311 Ho\u010de, Slovenia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-9990-3933","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Stanislav","family":"Trdan","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Agronomy, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Jamnikarjeva 101, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Andreja","family":"Urbanek Krajnc","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Maribor, Pivola 10, SI-2311 Ho\u010de, Slovenia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,10,15]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"732","DOI":"10.1038\/nature03451","article-title":"Recruitment of entomopathogenic nematodes by insect-damaged maize roots","volume":"434","author":"Rasmann","year":"2005","journal-title":"Nature"},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"361","DOI":"10.1007\/s10886-010-9773-7","article-title":"Subterranean herbivore-induced volatiles released by citrus roots upon feeding by Diaprepes abbreviatus recruit entomopathogenic nematodes","volume":"36","author":"Ali","year":"2010","journal-title":"J. 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